Cincinnati, Ohio – On Sunday March 24
th, the Mount St. Joseph Baseball programed hosted the Bluffton Beavers in a two games double-header series at the University of Cincinnati Baseball field. Behind impressive pitching and timely hits, the Lions were able to win both ballgames and improving their HCAC to 3-1 in the early season.
GAME ONE – MSJ: 7 Bluffton: 0
In game one, the Lions turned to Senior Aiden Post to start the game on the mound. Post picked up right where he had left off in his previous start by dominating the Beavers batters all afternoon. The southpaw carved up 6.0 innings allowing no runs on only four hits, while earning 4 strikeouts.
The Mount wouldn't waste any time as they quickly posted a crooked number in the bottom of the second inning. A walk would get the innings started as
Jordan Harley singled a ball right back up the middle to put pressure on the Bluffton ace. The Lions batters would then be hit by a pitch loading up the bases. A second straight hit by pitch would walk in the first run.
Anton Mere would then roll over a ball to third base but it would be enough to earn an RBI and give the Lions a 2-0 advantage. With the heart of the order up, the Lions would stay discipline at the plate and draw three straight walks to walk in another two runs and earn a 4-0 lead. After the Beavers would turn to a new arm,
Kevin Schaaf jumped on the first pitch sending it deep to left but would be caught but hit well enough to earn an RBI and a sacrifice fly.
Ethan Mason who started the inning, would find himself back up as he ripped a ball down the left field line scoring Harrison from first as they Lions finished off a 6 run second inning.
The two teams would not score again until the Lions would tack on more insurance in the 8
th.
Jordan Harley once again got the party started, this time a line shot into the left center gap as with his speed was no problem to coast into third base for a leadoff triple. Cather
Tyler Herbers then jumped on the very next pitch singling the ball to right center this time for an RBI.
Following Post on the hill, the Lions would hand the ball to
Ryan Caulfield. Caulfield was just as excellent as he completed a 3 inning save opportunity by going 3.0 innings allowing only 1 hit and 3 strikeouts.
GAME TWO – MSJ 5 Bluffton 3
The second game of the double-header would be a battle till the final out.
Ethan Mason would take the ball and remain steady for the Lions. Through the first 3 innings of play, the Beavers could once again not touch anything Mason was dotting in the zone as he only allowed 1 hit through those innings. In the second inning the Lions would strike first after a leadoff walk from Gutzwiller. With a fielder's choice moving him into scoring position, consecutive balks from the Beavers pitching staff would allow Gutzwiller to score. But in the 4
th inning Bluffton would run into a couple hard hit baseballs plating 3 runs and earning a 3-1 lead.
After the Lions were quickly set down in the 5
th, Freshman
Matt Frye would take the mound for The Mount. In his 5.0 innings of work, Frye would continue to make a name for himself the University by only allowing 2 hits while striking out 5 batters while getting out of jam in the 8
th inning.
With the Lions trailing by two runs heading into the bottom half of the 8
th inning,
Andrew Harrison would be once again hit by the pitch earning the Lions a runner with one out.
Brennan Martin would then provide the Lions with a single through the right-side putting Harrison in scoring position. Schaff would then continue the hit train with a hard hit single to single scoring Harrison from second to pull the Mount within one.
Ethan Mason, who remained in the game at the DH spot, smoked a ball down the left field line to send the Lions third base dugout roaring as the bases would clear giving them 4-3 lead in the 8
th. Following a popout for the second out, the Lions would tack on an insurance run as the Beavers right fielder would drop a flyball scoring Mason to make it 5-3.
In the top of the 9
th inning, Frye would remain on the mound and make quick work of the Bluffton batters setting them down 1,2,3 in route to his first win on the year and the Lions third HCAC win in four games!
UP NEXT: The Lions will be back in action on March 29
th and March 30
th for their 3-game series against Earlham College. Game one will be on Friday once again at the University of Cincinnati with a 6:00 first pitch. Games two and three will be a double-header on Saturday afternoon which will take place at Midland Field located in Batavia, Ohio. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 12:00 PM
