Chargers split in opener
NELSONVILLE, OH — The Marian University Ancilla Baseball team got their Spring season underway Friday, traveling to Nelsonville in Southeastern, Ohio, to take on the Hocking College Hawks splitting a pair of games, falling 11-1 (8 innings) in the opener, before winning 6-2 (5 innings) in a shortened second affair.
Game – 1: In the first game of the day, the Hawks struck first with a run in the bottom of the 2nd inning with the Chargers answering back in the top of the 3rd when Freshman Logan Clark smashed a line drive home run over the right field fence.
Hocking proceeded to score three runs in the bottom of the 4th, three runs in the bottom of the 6th, then four more runs in the bottom of the 8th to apply the 10-run rule.
Freshman starting pitcher Evan Lanphier (0-1) took the loss on the afternoon, however, the combination of Lanphier and Sophomore reliever Jacob Hobbs combined to strike out 13 batters in just 7.2 innings pitched. Freshmen Aayden Antoine and Jaxson Hixson each hit doubles for MUAC.
Game – 2: Charger starter Kaleb Short (1-0), a Freshman from River Forest High School, had a solid start in his first outing of the year. Short pitched all 5.0 innings, allowing just the two runs while also striking out six Hawks.
Sophomore outfielder John Morgan singled twice and drove in three of the team’s six runs. Freshman catcher Nolan Pizzo went 3-for-3 at the plate and drove in a run, while freshman Javier Higham pinch-hit in the 3rd inning and immediately drove in a run on a single. He remained in the game and played second base.
Following this tune-up at Hocking College, the Marian Ancilla Baseball team will now spend the next 2 1/2 weeks preparing for their annual Spring trip to the RussMatt Invitational in and around Orlando, Florida.
The Chargers open play on Sunday, March 2, when they take on MCCAA foe Jackson College.
