Chargers end trip with a pair of losses
ORLANDO — Friday morning, the Florida Spring Break trip for the Marian University Ancilla Baseball team came to a close with two final games.
First, the Chargers squared off against Region 12 foe Owens Community College, falling 5-3 in a hard-fought, 9-inning contest. Then, in the middle of the day, the Chargers faced the Wood Ducks of Century College in Minnesota. That matchup ended up being a shortened 5-inning affair after they found themselves trailing 12-0.
GAME-1 (Owens 5, Marian/Ancilla 3):
The Chargers got the scoring started in the bottom of the 2nd inning, as they manufactured 2 runs.
First, freshman Wes McNeff singled, followed by sophomore Isaiah Steinhilber being hit by a pitch. Freshman Nolan Pizzo then laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners one base. Freshman Jose Paris battled at the plate, but on strike-3, the catcher lost track of the ball. Paris was safe at first, and the other two runners advanced a base, scoring McNeff. Finally, with two outs, Sophomore Traevyn Shoaf walked to load the base, then Sophomore John Morgan also walked, scoring Steinhilber, and it was 2-0 Marian Ancilla.
Owens slowly crept back, scoring a run in the top of the 3rd, the top of the 4th, and the top of the 5th, taking a 3-2 lead, and it wasn’t until the 9th inning that anyone scored again.
Owens began the inning by plating two more runs, making it a tough-to-overcome 5-2 advantage.
The Chargers were able to add another score as freshman Isaak Osborne tagged from 3rd base and scored on a sacrifice fly, closing the deficit to 5-3, but that was all they could manage.
Freshman starting pitcher Kaleb Short (1-1) picked up the decision, pitching a solid five innings, allowing three earned runs, and striking out five. Freshman Evan Lanphier had maybe his best outing of the season so far, tossing the other four innings, allowing just one earned run, and striking out six batters in relief. McNeff and Osborne each hit safely twice, combining for all 4 Charger hits in this one.
GAME-2 (Century College 12, Marian/Ancilla 0):
In the second game of the day, walks and errors again doomed the Chargers, as the Wood Ducks were able to score two runs in the 1st, four in the second, and five in the 3rd.
Additionally, singles by Sophomores Blaze Schultz and Traevyn Shoaf were all Marian Ancilla could really muster, though the Chargers did draw six walks themselves.
Redshirt freshman Aiden Diaz (0-1) was credited with the loss. The Chargers were able to steal four bases in five innings, and freshman Logan Clark nabbed 2 of those.
The Chargers now have a little time off, as they don’t play again until Sunday, March 16, when they host Olive-Harvey in doubleheader action.
