FORT PIERCE, Fla. – The Owls continued their spring break slate Friday afternoon at the Lawnwood Complex, splitting a doubleheader against nationally receiving-votes Elizabethtown College. Kenyon claimed the opener, 5-3, marking the 500th career victory for head coach Matt Burdette at Kenyon College, before Elizabethtown responded with a 12-3 win in game two. With the split, the Owls moved to 7-3 overall while the Blue Jays improved to 6-2.
KC found itself trailing early in the opener after Elizabethtown pushed across a run in the bottom of the first inning on a sacrifice fly. The Owls answered immediately in the second inning. Otto McDill was hit by a pitch and Ben Resnick followed with a single before Bryce McNair delivered the first big swing of the afternoon, ripping a two-RBI double into right-center field to give the Owls a 2-1 advantage.
E-town tied the contest in the bottom of the second, but the Owls regained control in the third inning. Ben Zimmerman sparked the rally with a triple to left field before Tyler Nee lifted a sacrifice fly to bring him home. Gio Giuliani followed with a double to right-center, setting up another run when Niko Price lifted a sacrifice fly that pushed the lead to 4-2.
The Blue Jays trimmed the margin to one in the fourth inning, but the good guys added an insurance run in the fifth. Nee singled and stole second before Giuliani delivered once again, lining an RBI double to left-center to extend the Owls' lead to 5-3.
Kenyon tallied eight hits in the opener, led by Giuliani, who went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs. McNair provided the biggest early swing with his two-RBI double in the second inning, while Nee recorded a hit and scored one run.
On the mound, Theo Canning got the start for the Owls and worked the early frames before handing the ball to the bullpen, earning the win. Jack Briscoe earned the save in relief, tossing two scoreless innings while striking out three and allowing just one baserunner to close out the contest. Elizabethtown starter Joey Smith was tagged with the loss after surrendering four runs across the first four innings.
The Blue Jays bounced back quickly in the second game. KC jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Price launched a two-run home run down the center that also scored Nee. The Blue Jays responded in the second inning with a four-run rally, capitalizing on a series of hits and defensive miscues to take a 4-2 advantage.
Kenyon trimmed the deficit to one in the third inning after Moss worked a walk and Nee advanced him with a sacrifice before Price drove in another run with a sacrifice fly. However, the Blue Jays gradually pulled away. Elizabethtown plated two runs in the fifth inning and added four more in the sixth to build a comfortable lead, eventually securing the 12-3 victory.
Price led the Owls offensively in game two with three RBIs, highlighted by his two-run homer in the first inning and a sacrifice fly in the third. Nee continued his strong day at the plate with multiple hits, while Giuliani followed right behind.
Dylan Ritzenthaler got the start for the Owls before Griffin Jackson and Jack Enger appeared in relief. Elizabethtown pitcher Justin Marraccini earned the win after allowing three runs over the opening innings.
Up next for the Owls is a quick turnaround as they prepare to face the University of Northwestern (MN) in less than 24 hours. First pitch is set for 10 a.m.
