AUBURNDALE, Florida - Mount St. Joseph baseball got their annual spring break trip underway on Sunday with a pair of games against St. Norbert. They got off to a good start taking game one 4-2 before the Green Knights roared back to win game two.
GAME ONE | MSJ 4 - SNU 2 | WP: A. Post (1-2); LP: J. Schroeder (1-2); S: E. Webb (1)
In game one of the day the Lions turned the ball over to senior Aiden Post to get their trip underway. The senior was magnificent bouncing back after a couple of rough starts to open the season. Post was able to locate three pitches for strikes throughout his outing, going 5.1 innings allowing 6 hits, 2 runs while striking out 6.
St. Norbert jumped ahead early in this one, scoring one run in the top of the second and third innings. The Lions would threaten to get one back in the third as
Jackson Gutzwiller singled, eventually advancing to third with two outs. The Mount would miss out on that key hit to drive in the run and head to the fourth trailing 2-0.
With this game only scheduled for 7-innings, the Lions were running out of opportunities at the plate. Then came the bottom of the fourth inning, where they would score three times to take the lead.
Andrew Harrison led off the inning reaching base on an error by the St. Norbert shortstop. He was then lifted for a pinch-runner in
Jordan Harley who moved onto second base on a sacrifice bunt by
Ethan Mason. An out later
Carter Owen came to the plate with a runner in scoring position and two outs and laced an RBI single into left field getting the Lions on the board.
Andrew Clements then singled on a ball deep into the hole at second, with
Carter Owen scoring from second on an overthrow by the second baseman. Gutzwiller then smoked a double deep into the right centerfield gap scoring Clements.
They would add an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning, with
Jake Lawson scoring on a wild pitch to push the team ahead 4-2.
With one out in the sixth Post gave way to
Evan Webb who came in and slammed the door closed on the Green Knights. The Lions sophomore right-hander threw 1.2 innings to close the game not allowing a single base runner while striking out four. He earned the save, his first of the 2023 season.
GAME TWO | SNU 16 - MSJ 5 | WP: Bzdawka (1-1) ; L: L. Flamm (0-1)
Game two would be a much different script for the Lions. They turned the ball over to freshman
Lleyton Flamm to begin the game. Flamm had been outstanding out of the bullpen for the Lions over the first couple weeks of the season, but this would be his first collegiate start. Flamm would struggle with command from the get go, in just .2 of an inning he allowed 5 hits, 8 runs (8 earned), 2 walks and a HBP.
With the Lions behind from the get go on the first day of games on the trip, it provided Coach Newman with an opportunity to get some playing time for the younger players on his roster. Luke Legault,
Caiden Yorn and
Devin Perry all came in mid game. Perry was able to get his first collegiate hit a basehit into left field.
UP NEXT:
The Lions will take the field again tomorrow in Auburndale, a single game vs. SUNY Canton. The game is scheduled to get underway at 1:00 PM but there is a chance of rain in tomorrow's forcast. Follow
MSJAthletics on twitter for schedule updates.
