NEW CONCORD, Ohio – Missed opportunities resulted in a 2-1 loss for the Kenyon College baseball team Wednesday evening. The Lords left 11 runners on base at Mose Morehead Field, home to the Muskingum University Fighting Muskies, who got enough pitching to eke out the one-run win.
The Lords, who out-hit the Muskies, 10-5, ended the first, second, sixth and eighth innings with two runners stranded. They were 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position and 4-for-19 with runners on base.
On the mound, Kenyon starter
Patrick O'Leary kept Kenyon in the game by holding Muskingum to just four hits and two runs. O'Leary worked into the sixth inning, walked two and struck out two. His counterpart, Craig Nixon, gave up all ten Kenyon hits, but was masterful in getting out of jams, including striking out the side in the eighth inning with Kenyon runners on second and third.
Muskingum's first run, scored in the bottom of the fourth, came on a solo home run from Matt Stewart. The team's next run came on the sixth. Leadoff man Brett Carson drew a walk from O'Leary and moved around the bases on singles from Stewart and designated hitter Michael Pagano.
Nixon attempted the complete game for Muskingum, but
Paul Siciliano's leadoff double in the top of the ninth inning ended his day. Josh Bigrigg came on to close. He got
Ryan Page to ground out to second, advancing Siciliano to third.
Matt Contreras then smacked a sacrifice fly to left field, plating the Lords' only run.
In the batter's box, both O'Leary and
Will Sturgeon ended up 2-for-4 for the Lords. When O'Leary exited the game,
Ross Scheinberg and
Nathan Chandler took over relief duties on the mound and nailed down the last seven outs without giving up a run.
Despite the loss, which put the Lords' record at 13-6, the team's ERA fell to 4.73. O'Leary's personal ERA dropped to 2.70. At the same point in the season last year, Kenyon's record was 8-11 and the pitching staff had an ERA of 5.69.
The Lords will look to get back on the winning path Saturday, as they open North Coast Athletic Conference play at home against the Hiram College Terriers.
