Chargers drop two in tune up games
LAFAYETTE — Monday, the Marian University Ancilla Baseball team completed their late-weekend round robin in a final tune-up before heading to Florida for their annual Spring Break games. In the afternoon, the Chargers faced Highland Community College for the second day in a row, dropping a 7-4 outcome. Then, in the evening, they suffered an extra inning heart-breaker, falling to Milwaukee Area Technical College in 11 innings, 14-5.
GAME-1:
Highland picked up a pair of runs in the fifth with a pair of singles and a two-out double.
The Chargers picked up a pair of runs in the bottom of the 5th, as Freshman Caden Taylor walked with the bases loaded to score Freshman Wes McNeff and freshman Jose Paris stroking a single to right field, allowing Freshman Tanner Coble to score.
In the bottom of the 6th inning, Coble singled on a line drive to left field, scoring freshman Isaak Osborne, and the Highland lead was trimmed to 5-3.
Highland would answer with two more runs in the top of the 7th inning, extending their lead to 7-3.
The Chargers were able to manufacture one more run in the bottom of the 7th, when Osborne hit into a fielder’s choice, scoring Paris, and that produced the final margin of 7-4. Redshirt freshman Aiden Diaz got the start and went 4 1/3 innings. Diaz (0-1) was charged with the loss.
GAME-2:
In the evening contest, the Chargers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second. freshman Jaxson Hixson was hit by a pitch, freshman Nolan Pizzo walked, and Jose Paris singled to center, scoring Hixson for the first run of the game.
Sophomore pinch-runner Blaze Schultz then scored on an error by the Stormers’ pitcher, and it was 2-0. Milwaukee Tech was able to tie with a run in the top of the 5th and another in the top of the 7th innings.
In extra innings, the Stormers got things rolling with a leadoff triple and single in the eighth to take a 3-2 lead.
In the bottom half, MUAC freshman Logan Clark led off with a walk and scored on an error with one out, tying the score.
Two innings later, in the top of the 10th inning, the Stormers used a two out, walk to take a 4-3 lead. Marian Ancilla responded immediately with a solo home run by Clark to tie it at four.
In the 11th inning, Milwaukee Tech sent 15 batters to the plate, scoring 10 runs and taking a 14-4 lead.
Freshman starting pitcher Kaleb Short put together a nice start, going 6 1/3 innings, allowing just 2 runs (neither earned), and striking out seven. Redshirt Freshman Nico Galea (0-1) was handed the loss in relief.
The Chargers will face Jackson College in Florida on Sunday, March 2 to start their spring trip. Their first home game is currently scheduled for Sunday, March 16th, when they host Olive-Harvey out of Chicago.
