Box Score FORT MEYERS, Fla. – Solid pitching performances from
Mike Jeffers and
Tim Krahn accompanied with a balanced offense helped the Kenyon College baseball team defeat Monmouth College, 7-3, on Saturday night. The Lords earned their fifth win of the season and their third straight playing under the lights at Terry Park as their stay at the Gene Cusic Classic continues.
Jeffers busted out of the gate by striking out the first four batters that he faced and a total of five through his opening two innings of work. He totaled six strikeouts on the day, all achieved by the end of the third inning.
Jeffers' start on the bump helped Kenyon jump out to an early lead when freshman Casey Rosenfeld plated Phillip Nam with an RBI single in the bottom of the second. The lead was taken away by the Fighting Scots (0-1) when Zach McCrery and Jesse Brucker each hit run-scoring doubles in the bottom of the fourth, but the Lords stampeded back despite being down 3-1.
In the top of the sixth inning, John Nahra led the inning off with a single to center field. After Sam Gillespie drew a walk, Nam put down a bunt that Monmouth starting pitcher Austin Hardy threw into center field while attempting to get the putout at second base, allowing Nahra to score. After Monmouth converted a 3-6-4 double play on another bunt attempt, Rosenfeld tallied his second RBI of the day with a single deep to the hole at short, which plated Gillespie from third. Another throwing error by second baseman Ryan Crandall extended the inning, but more importantly allowed Kenyon to retake the lead with its third run of the frame.
Kenyon scored four more times over the next three innings. In the top of the seventh, Nahra lofted a deep fly ball to right field that served as a stand-up triple and scored Kyle Hardacker. Nahra came around to score when Gillespie followed with a single down the left field line, elevating Kenyon's lead to three runs, 6-3. The Lords' last run was scored off of a Tyler Rolden single to center that plated Jake Dunn from second following his leadoff double to open the eighth inning.
Jeffers came out to open the seventh inning, but after surrendering a leadoff single was replaced by Tim Krahn. Krahn started just as quickly as Jeffers had to open the game by striking out the first three hitters to close out the seventh. He finished with four strikeouts, ending the game with his final punchout to strand runners at first and second. He also earned a save with three innings of effective work.
Seven different Lords collected multiple hits during Saturday's win. Rosenfeld led the team with two RBIs and a run scored.
Hardy (0-1) took the loss, despite an effective collegiate debut that included 5.2 innings of work, one earned run, and five strikeouts.
Kenyon (5-2) will go for its fourth straight win Sunday, March 9 against Swarthmore College. The Lords and the Garnet will play two seven-inning games beginning at 10 a.m. from the Player Development Center in Fort Myers, Florida.
