MARIETTA, Ohio - The Kalamazoo College baseball team continued its spring break trip with two games against Johnson & Wales and #20 Marietta on Friday afternoon (Mar. 17). The Hornets split the two games, defeating the Wildcats 5-2 and falling to the Pioneers 12-2.
GAME 1 - Kalamazoo 5, Johnson & Wales 2
The Wildcats scored the first two runs of the ball game in the second and sixth innings. In the second, the run scored on a fielder's choice, and in the sixth, a double down the left field line brought in the second run.
The bats came alive for the Hornets in the seventh inning. First, Harrison Poeszat reached on an error, Robert Newland doubled, and Cam Kelly walked to load the bases with no outs. Then, Daniel Beccari, Tanner Hawkins, and Cooper Mills drew bases loaded walks for three runs. Finally, David Stechow lifted a sacrifice fly out to right field to plate the inning's final run. Kalamazoo also scored one run in the eighth as Ryar Rinehart and Newland executed a double steal with Newland scoring the run.
Thomas Sylvester went six innings in the start, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out a career-high 11. Brenden Oprinski (1-1) earned the win after pitching three scoreless innings in relief, collecting three strikeouts.
GAME 2 - #20 Marietta 12, Kalamazoo 2
The Pioneers scored three runs in the first inning on an RBI groundout, an error, and a single. The Hornets responded with their two runs of the game in the second inning to cut the deficit to one. Newland singled down the left field line and stole second base. Lukas Bolton brought in Newland on a single through the left side. Bolton ended up on third after a wild pitch and then scored on an RBI single from Hawkins.
From then on, it was all Marietta as the Pioneers scored a run in the fourth, a run in the fifth, four in the sixth, and three in the eighth.
Jacob Davis (1-1) went five innings in his start, allowing five runs (two earned) on 10 hits and two walks while striking out fifth. Joe Wade pitched a third of an inning, surrendering four runs on three hits and a walk. Braden Mussat pitched an inning and two-thirds of scoreless baseball. Matt Butterly allowed three runs in a third of an inning, and Ben Van Nes got the last two outs of the ball game.
The Hornets will play their last game in Ohio on Sunday (Mar. 19) against New Jersey City.