By Mitch Blankespoor
AUBURNDALE, Fla. – Surrendering six runs in the second inning proved to be the Kalamazoo College baseball team's undoing as the Hornets fell to Rochester Institute of Technology (N.Y.) 18-2 in seven innings Saturday, Mar. 22.
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) used three hits and a Kalamazoo error to put a six-spot on the Hornets in the second inning. RIT followed its huge inning up with three runs in the third and a run in the fourth.
Trailing 10-0, Kalamazoo's bats showed life in the bottom half of the fourth inning. The Hornets got four of their seven hits in the inning and put two runs on the board. With only one out and the bases loaded, K's rally ended with two flyouts; one to right field and the other to left field.
RIT would score its final eight runs in the fifth. Neither team scored in the final two innings.
Freshman Brent Yelton took the loss for Kalamazoo giving up five earned runs in one inning of work. Freshman Tim Antel came in to pitch the final inning for the Hornets and retired the side in order.
Offensively, seven different Hornets ended with a hit while two more reached base via the walk. Freshman Ian Kobernick and Ty Rock each batted in a single run.
Kalamazoo drops to 1-5 on the young season, but will not have to wait long to get back in the win column. The Hornets return to action tomorrow, Mar. 23 for a 3:00 p.m. game against North Central College (Ill.).