KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Kalamazoo College baseball team had its home opener in a doubleheader against Maranatha Baptist on Tuesday afternoon (Mar. 28). The Hornets quickly swept both games, defeating the Sabercats 15-2 and 17-0.
GAME 1: Kalamazoo 15, Maranatha Baptist 2
Kalamazoo jumped out to a 7-0 lead after one inning as the team collected six hits, two walks, two hit by pitches, and two stolen bases in the inning. The Hornets got four more in the second as an error, two doubles, and two singles scored the runs. Kalamazoo held a 13-0 advantage in the third with two RBI singles before Maranatha Baptist finally got two runs on the board in the fourth. The Hornets ended up with a 13-run win as another two runs were scored in the bottom half of the inning thanks two a bases-loaded error and hit by pitch.
Kalamazoo trotted out four pitchers in seven innings, with Joe Wade (2-0) earning the win. Only one of the two runs surrendered was an earned run, as the team allowed seven hits and six walks. The staff also totaled seven strikeouts as Wade, Charlie Peterson, and Chris Bullard collected two each, and Dean Turpin finished with one.
Lukas Bolton was 2-3 at the plate with a double, a run scored, a walk, two stolen bases, and five RBI. Tanner Hawkins was 3-3 and scored twice, while Harrison Poeszat finished 2-2 with a run and an RBI. Leo Schinker and Alex Fenkell had two hits, runs, and RBI each.
GAME 2: Kalamazoo 17, Maranatha Baptist 0 (5 innings)
It was all the Hornets in game two, by collecting their third shutout of the season. The team totaled 14 hits, with six going for extra bases and 15 of the 17 runs going down as RBIs. Kalamazoo scored five runs in the first, three in the second, four in the third, and five in the fourth before the game was called after the top of the fifth due to darkness.
Another four pitchers were used in the combined shutout, as only one hit and two walks were allowed. Jaden Williams (1-0) earned the win as Williams (2), Kaden Sotomayor (1), Ben Van Nes (1), and Gabe Sokol (2) combined for six strikeouts.
Ryar Rinehart was 3-4 at the plate with three doubles, four runs scored, and five RBI. Poeszat stayed perfect with a 3-3 finish and three RBI. Cam Kelly went 2-2 with two runs scored, three RBI, and added two walks. David Stechow was also 2-2 with three runs scored and a walk.
Kalamazoo will begin MIAA play by hosting a doubleheader against Albion on Saturday (Apr. 1), starting at 1 p.m.