CINCINNATI, Ohio - The Mount St. Joseph baseball team headed into this weekend with a magic number of one to clinch a spot in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament for the first time since 2017. They took their destiny into their own hands defeating Anderson in game one of the double-header 7-2 behind a solid pitching performance from
Aidan Post.
Anderson threatened in the top of the first, but Post got the Ravens four-hole hitter to line into a double play to end the threat. The Mount would start the scoring in the bottom of the inning,
Anton Mere led off with a walk an out later
Andrew Harrison singled and then
Ethan Mason delivered an RBI single into left to open the scoring.
The Ravens would leave five on base over the next four innings, but Post got himself off the hook each time. The Lions then scored three times in the bottom of the fifth to extend the lead.
Jordan Harley led the inning off with a single, then stole second base.
Matt Brankamp then flied out to right advancing Harley to third,
Anton Mere delivered an RBI bunt base-hit.
Jake Lawson followed that up with an infield single of his own, Lawson and Mere would both advance on a balk.
Andrew Harrison then loaded the bases after being hit by pitch, after which
Ethan Mason delivered a sacrifice fly to drive in Mere. The final run of the inning was scored on a passed ball as Lawson raced home to settle the score at 4-0.
In the top of the sixth Anderson finally got on the board with two-runs, off of reliever
Kaiden Morris. The Mount scored three more times in the bottom of the eighth inning to put the game away. Mason led off with a walk,
Tyler Herbers was then hit-by-pitch, and
Brennan Martin advanced both runners on a sac bunt.
Kevin Schaaf was then hit-by-pitch to load the bases,
Jordan Harley reached on an infield single to drive in a run.
Matt Brankamp lifted a sacrifice fly into right field, and the Lions executed a perfect double-steal to get the final run of the game.
Ryan Caulfield entered the game with two-outs in the seventh inning and pitched the final 2.1 innings allowing only a single hit while striking out two, earning his fourth save of the season.
The Lions dropped game two of the double-header 9-3, but still clinched a spot in the HCAC Tournament with the win.
UP NEXT: The Lions will head south to Lexington tomorrow to take on the Pioneers of Transylvania, they will continue to play for seeding in the HCAC Tournament. The could finish as high as third or as low as fifth in the upcoming tournament.
