Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
GAMBIER, Ohio – The top of the Kenyon College baseball team's lineup scorched Wittenberg University, setting the tone in the Lords' 13-7 win in Saturday's opener at McCloskey Field. While similar production from the top of the order was present in game two, far fewer runs scored for both teams and went to extras before the Tigers pulled away with a 4-2 win.
Nate Lotze served as the Lords' ringmaster, taming Tiger's starting pitcher Luke Black in each of the first two innings of game one. The senior was responsible for plating four of Kenyon's seven runs in the first two stanzas with a two-RBI triple in the first and a two-RBI single in the second inning.
Lotze's day was all but done as the Lords approached the bottom of the sixth inning. The Lords and Tigers went into the inning knotted, 7-7, before Tyler Roldan broke the tie with a run-scoring single, plating Phillip Nam. With the bases loaded, Lotze ripped his third two-RBI hit of the game, breaking it open for the Lords. Connor Farrell made matters worse for Wittenberg with a base-clearing double to deep center field, scoring three and putting the Lords up by six heading into the seventh and final inning.
Spencer Byers (2-2) went out for his third inning of relief work and shut down Wittenberg, recording one of his two strikeouts on the day to claim the win. Josh Jacobvitz set the table for the sophomore, tossing four innings prior to his arrival. Only one of Jacobvitz's seven runs allowed was earned, that coming in the first inning. Errors in the third and fourth innings laid the groundwork for the remainder of the Tigers' run.
The top five hitters in the Kenyon lineup teamed up to score 11 of their 13 runs and combined for 10 hits in 16 official trips to the plate. In game two, that portion of the order went 7-for-17 with two ribbies and two runs scored.
Saturday's finale kept fans on the edge of their seats as play went into the eighth inning to find a winner. Kenyon was unable to drive home the winning run in the bottom of the seventh with the bases loaded and one out, which would cost them in the following frame.
Paul Henshaw (1-4) pitched all eight innings and did as best he could to keep the Tigers off the board. However, in the eighth Wittenberg went up on the Lords after Will Cousins drove home Preston Snodgrass with a double down the right field line. The Lords cut down one run at the plate, but the Tigers had already added to its lead.
Facing a 4-2 deficit, Kenyon sent Farrell to the plate as the game-tying run following Lotze's leadoff single. Tigers' reliever Alex Lochard then induced a 1-6-3 double play to end the game.
Jake Dunn gave the Lords a 2-1 lead in the third inning after taking Tyler Powell for his first home run of the season. That lead disappeared in the sixth when Cousins lofted a sacrifice fly to score David Moore.
Dunn and Lotze each finished Saturday with four hits apiece. Dunn went 4-for-6 with three runs scored, two stolen bases, and a pair of walks. Lotze went 4-for-7 with six RBIs and two runs scored. Rolden also joined the four-hit club, going 4-for-8 and tallying three RBIs.
The split not only takes the Lords overall record to 10-14, but it also granted head coach Matt Burdette his 299th win of his career. One more win will give Burdette, now in his 19th season at the top step for the Lords, a milestone 300th win.
The series between the Lords and Tigers will continue in Springfield, Ohio where they will tangle twice more beginning at 1 p.m. in this cross-divisional showdown.
