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Box Score 2
GAMBIER, Ohio – The Kenyon College baseball team continue their pursuit for their first North Coast Athletic Conference win after Saturday's pair of losses at the hands of Oberlin College. The Yeomen plated a total of 21 runs against the Lords, taking away 11-1 and 10-7 wins from McCloskey Field. Kenyon made game two interesting with a late rally, but was unable to fully overcome Oberlin's offensive show.
The Yeomen (11-5, 4-0 NCAC) scored nine time in the first three innings of game one, using eight hits and a Kenyon error to jump out to an early lead. Lords' starting pitcher Spencer Byers lasted just 2.1 innings before being relieved by Alex Pinkus. The freshman had a rocky start after hitting a batter and allowing a base-clearing double, but then settled down to retire the next six batters. The bullpen combined to allow three runs, only one of those earned, from the third inning on.
Oberlin starter Mike McDonald had a field day with the Kenyon batting lineup, striking out 11 in his seven innings of work. He gave up just four hits while obtaining his second complete game of the season and improving his record to 4-1 on the year.
Kenyon's lone run in game one came from Sam Gillespie who knocked in Nate Lotze with a two-out, run-scoring double in the second inning. He finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate, but reached base a total of six times by the end of the second contest.
In game two, the Yeomen and Lords (8-12, 0-6 NCAC) traded runs in the first inning and took that tie into the top of the fourth where one pitch turned the tide of the game. Josh Jacobvitz (2-2) faced a 2-2 count against Brian Hemmert and went inside with a fastball, but did not get the call for the third strike. Two pitches later, Hemmert walked and the next batter hit a two-RBI double down the left field line to spark a four-run inning for the Yeomen.
After Oberlin posted five more runs in the top of the seventh inning stemming from a pair of errors in the field, the Yeomen held on to a 10-1 lead going into the seventh-inning stretch. The Lords refused to lie down and responded with six runs to make for a three-run contest. A throwing error allowed Casey Rosenfeld to reach base, starting the rally. He was followed by four consecutive base hits from the middle of the Lords' lineup. Lotze, Tyler Roldan, John Nahra, and Kyle Hardacker all retaliated with run-scoring bases hits in succession. The latter three were for extra bases. Gillespie then drove in his second run of the day with a ground out to the left side to make for a 10-6 score.
Phillip Nam continued the Lords' push by posting their fourth double of the inning. He came around to score when second baseman Kyle Decker committed an error on a grounder hit by Jono Chafe.
Paul Henshaw did his best to keep the Lords in the game, strikeout out three Yeomen in his three innings of relief. After turning the scorebook over to the eighth inning, the Lords once again threatened with the bases loaded and one out. The rally quickly turned for the worse after Rosenfeld was sniped at third base when catcher Blaise Dolcemaschio threw a bullet to pick off the freshman just prior to Hardacker grounding out the end the frame. The Lords were unable to muster another charge in the ninth, leading to a 10-7 final score.
Gillespie drew four walks in game two but was stranded on the base paths each time, twice in scoring position. Roldan went 3-for-5 with two RBIs in the nightcap. Kenyon left a total of 16 runners on base after the doubleheader, including 12 in game two.
Oberlin and Kenyon will meet at McCloskey Field again tomorrow for the final two games of the four-game set. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. with live stats and audio provided.
