The IU Columbus baseball team continued it's run of exciting, close games as they were back on their home field at CERA Sports Park on Tuesday. Coming off a tough series against Shawnee State that saw the Crimson Pride lose games late, they found themselves behind early against Rochester Christian. This time was different, however, as they rallied to win the opener and split the doubleheader.
Game 1
Gavin Lash got the starting nod on the mound for IU Columbus. While he was not particularly sharp, the defense behind him did provided little support early. After turning a slick 4-6-3 double play, a 2-out error followed and the Warriors took advantage with two runs in the first. Rochester Christian added two more in the second, again aided by an error and a passed ball. A visit to the mound that included the entire infield was necessary.
The offense perked up in the bottom of the second as
Aidan Sheetz led off with a double.
Wes McNeff followed with a long home run, breathing some much-needed life into the home team, cutting the deficit to 4-2.
After a scoreless third inning, the Crimson Pride took advantage of the Warriors' pitchers' mistakes. Starter Louis Frontero walked McNeff and
Grayson Roll to start the bottom of the fourth. Tryce Davis came on in relief and was called for 2 balks, and Roll was awarded home to make the score 4-3.
Carson McNulty started the fifth inning rally with a 1-out single, and after
Garrett Thurman was hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and second. Sheetz' ground ball forced Thurman at second, but the throw by shortstop Beau Falkenhagen was wild, allowing McNulty to score the tying run, with Sheetz advancing to second. McNeff came through with an RBI single to score Sheetz, with McNeff advancing to second on the throw to the plate. Roll followed with a single that scored McNeff and put the Crimson Pride up 6-4.
The relief pitching was solid as
Caleb Richards and
Ethan Brinsfield in innings three through five.
Gavin Haltom then needed only the minimum six batters as he breezed throught the sixth and seventh innings for the save The Crimson Pride breathed a sigh of relief as they finally were able to hang on to a lat lead and nail down the victory 6-4.
Game 2
The first inning of the second game saw plenty of action and took 45 minutes to complete. Rochester Christian combined three singles, three walks, a rare fielder's interference and a sacrifice fly to score four runs in the top of the first.
IUC answered in the bottom of the first as McNulty worked a 1-out walk and Lash followed with a single. McNeff stayed hot at the plate as he sent a towering shot to right field that had just enough to clear the fence for a 3-run bomb, his second home run on the day. The Crimson Pride loaded the bases with three walks, but they were left stranded and the score was 4-3 Warriors after one inning of play.
Rochester Christian added one run in the second on a pair of singles and a misplay in the outfield to lead 5-3. The home team answered again in the bottom half as McNulty and McNeff walked to put two on with two outs. Sheetz then smoked a double to score both runners and tie the game 5-5.
The pitchers settled in, as the Warriors' Reece Jones kept the Crimson Pride scoreless in innings three, four and five.
Owen Kipper was just as effective as he held the Warriors scoreless over the same three frames.
Rochester Christian was able to break the tie in the sixth. After a pair of 1-out singles put runners at first and second, a long fly ball to right moved the runners into scoring position with two outs. Nathaniel Crane came through with a 2-rbi single and gave the Warriors a 7-5 lead.
Quentcy Perry led off the bottom of the sixth with a base hit and moved to second base on a wild pitch. Lash delivered o 1-out RBI single, making the score 7-6. McNeff walked to put runners on first and second, but a 6-4-3 double play ended the threat. Neither team was able to score in the seventh, and Rochester Christian salvaged a split of the doubleheader.
Next on the schedule
The Crimson Pride host River States Conference foe Midway for a three game series beginning with a single 9-inning game on Friday, March 13 at 2:00, followed by a doubleheader on Saturday, March 14 with a 12;00 start
