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GAMBIER, Ohio – A mix of young and veteran pitchers armed the mound at McCloskey Field and turned in a pair of complete game wins, guiding the Kenyon Lords baseball team to a doubleheader sweep over Wittenberg University. Saturday featured stellar performances from
Tyler Dierke and Spencer Byers in the Lords' 7-4 and 7-3 wins over the Tigers.
Dierke (4-1) tossed his second complete game of the season behind a seven-inning, five-strikeout performance in game one. The senior rolled through the first four innings with strikeouts in each frame. He allowed only one hit over that time and twice sat down the Tigers in order.
The Lords spotted their ace seven runs of offense leading to his second complete game of the season. Jesse Weiss blasted a two-run homer to left field in the third, giving Kenyon an early lead. The Lords exploded for their first five-run inning of the day in the fifth, batting around the order and giving Wittenberg pitcher Jordan Hitt an early exit. The Lords tagged Hitt for four base hits, including a two-RBI single by Nate Lotze and a run-scoring single by Kyle Hardacker to put Kenyon up 5-0. Andrew Dunn and Mike Danziger completed the singles parade, each tallying RBI hits to give Kenyon a sizable lead heading into the final two innings.
Despite the Tigers biting back with two runs in the sixth and seventh innings, Dierke closed the door on Wittenberg to lead the Lords' to the first of two wins on the day and his fourth victory of the season.
Byers (4-0) came out in game two and nearly earned an early hook in the second inning by allowing three runs on six hits and three walks. After giving up two runs and then loading the bases in his second inning of work, the freshman began an insurmountable turnaround beginning with two strikeouts to get out of the inning. From that point, Byers allowed only two base runners through the duration of the game. Beginning with his first strikeout in the second, he retired 10 straight Tigers hitters before Tyler Hutchinson broke up the streak with a single in the fifth. It was the first hit allowed since the second inning and the last he surrendered on the day.
Kenyon (16-8) took a temporary 2-1 lead when Nate Lotze hit his second home run of the season with a drive over the right field fence. After Wittenberg retook the lead in the second, the Lords responded with their second five-run inning of the day. Wittenberg starting pitcher Colby Clark struggled with his command and with his second walk of the inning, tied the game by issuing a free pass to Weiss with the bases loaded. Lotze followed by clearing the bases by painting the right field line with a rope that sped into the corner, scoring three. He ended the day with five RBIs, a new season high.
Kenyon tagged on one more run against relief pitcher Luke Black, building a lead that was kept to the end.
Byers earned his first career complete game and his fourth win of the season to remain undefeated in five starts.
The Lords and Tigers will conclude the cross-division series on Sunday in Springfield, Ohio with a doubleheader set to begin at 1 p.m.
