Box Score
The College of Mount St. Joseph split a Saturday afternoon baseball doubleheader at Buffton University, winning game one, 2-1; and losing the second game, 6-5, and then came back on Sunday to grab the rubber game of the series, winning 6-3. The Lions, 11-20 overall and 4-14 in the HCAC, are scheduled to return to action on Apr. 24 with a game at HCAC-rival Transylvania University.
Saturday's first game saw Brandon Polking (Cincinnati, OH/St. Xavier) toss a seven inning complete game, allowing only five hits and a run, with no walks and a strikeout to post his third win of the season. The Beavers led 1-0 entering the Mount fifth, when the Lions scored twice to take the lead. Josh Denny (Huntsville, AL/Flushing) singled in teammate Derek Allen (New Alsace, IN/East Central) with the go-ahead run in the inning. Michael Leytze (Cincinnati, OH/La Salle) had two hits to lead the Lions' offense.
The Lions found themselves down 5-3 after six innings in game two, but scored twice in the seventh to tie the game at five-all. The game went to the 10th inning, where the Beavers plated an unearned run for the winning score with two outs off Mount reliever Chris Bruckman (Huber Heights, OH/Chaminade-Julinenne). Leytze had two hits and three RBI in the nightcap while teammate Garrett Edwards (Reading, OH/Reading) had two hits and two runs scored.
The Mount got another strong pitching effort in the third game of the series, as Aaron Sparks (Cincinnati, OH/La Salle) went seven innings, scattering eight hits and allowing one run and four walks, claiming his first win of the season. Craig Shanks (Erlanger, KY/St. Henry) pitched two scoreless innings of relief, and had three hits, including two doubles. Cole Wendeln (Florence, KY/Boone County) and Leytze chipped in two hits each in the series finale.
