Baseball Drops Two One Run Games at Hanover

HANOVER, Indiana - The Mount St. Joseph baseball team was on the road on Saturday, taking on the Hanover Panthers in the first two games of an HCAC three game series. The Lions led late in game one but Hanover got the late comeback win, in a game two pitcher's dual Hanover won 3-2.

GAME ONE | HANOVER 4 - MSJ 3

In game one the Lions got the scoring underway with a run in the top of the first inning. Austin Buckle led the game off with his fifth triple of the season, tying him with MSJ hall of famer Mark Schorsch for the most triples in a single season in MSJ baseball history. Buckle would score on an RBI double from Jordan Harley, giving the Lions a 1-0 lead. 

The Lions sent left-hander Sam Huston to the mound to start the series, and the senior was outstanding. He threw the front 5.0 innings, scattering four hits while striking out eight and keeping the Panthers scoreless. 

The Lions added one in the top of the fourth as Brennan Martin led off with a single, followed by a Zac Clow walk. The Lions hit into a double play as Andrew Clements attempted to bunt, and Martin was erased after the bunt was popped up. Jackson Gutzwiller hit a two-out single, Will Record followed with a walk and the Lions scored a run as AJ Meyer's speed forced an Hanover to commit and error. 

They added one more in the fifth to take a 3-0 lead into the later part of the game. Harley was hit-by-pitch to start the inning and quickly stole second, he would score on an RBI double from Ethan Mason.

In the bottom of the sixth, Zach deSylva was called on to relieve Huston. Zach threw 2.0 innings of scoreless relieve allowing only a pair of hits. 

In the eighth the ball was turned over to Josh Issacs, and he struggled. He retired only a single batter while walking three and hitting one allowing Hanover to score their first run of the game. Matt Frye was called on with the bases loaded and one out in the eighth, he would get the Lions out of the inning but not before three more runs scored.

GAME TWO | Hanover 3 - MSJ 2

Game two of the double header was all about the pitching, Nolan Miller squared off with John Girard of Hanover. In a bit of a throw back both starters went the distance pitching complete games. Miller gave up just three runs while striking out nine but was outdual by Girard who allowed only two. 

The Moung got the scoring started in the top of the fourth, Harley led off with a single and an out later Martin followed with a single. Sean Moore drove in the first run of the game with a two-out double into left center. 

The lead was short lived as Hanover scored one in the bottom of the fourth to tie the score.

In the fifth the Lions took the lead again with a run, Jack Robinson led off with a basehit and was moved into scoring position via a Buckle sac bunt. Robinson scored an an RBi single off th bat of Mason.

Hanover scored twice in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 3-2 lead and the stellar pitching by Girard would secure the win.

UP NEXT: The Lions and Panthers will square off again tomorrow, with the series finale beggining at 2:00 PM.