WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Allegheny baseball squad traveled to the former spring training home of the Cleveland Indians, playing a double header against the Dutchmen of Union College at Chain O'Lakes Park in Winter Haven, Florida on Sunday afternoon. The Gators got off to a fast start, taking game one 6-2 but could not hold on to that momentum, dropping game two 3-5.
Allegheny jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead, scoring the game's opening run in the top of the second, and following that up with a three spot in the top of the third.
The Gators big inning was started by lead-off hitter Zach Gray who would get things going with a single to center. After a Jeff Dassner sacrifice bunt moved Gray to second, Eric Hansen brought him home with a triple to right field. Hansen would not be on base long, as Ben Lowmaster would drive him home with a sac fly to make it 3-0.
Next up was Kyle Davis who kept the momentum going, singling left field. Mike Kastelic followed that up by single of his own, moving Davis to second. Jon Boyd would drive in the third run of the game with a single to right. Davis would score before Kastelic was thrown out at third, and Allegheny took a 4-0 lead.
The Gators would tack on a pair of insurance runs late, and Allegheny would take the contest 6-2.
That was more than enough for started Mike Pezzone, as he would pitch a gem. Pezzone scattered five hits over six innings, giving up just one run, while striking out three. The bats really came out for Allegheny in game one as Boyd (3), Lowmaster (2) and Hansen (1) all drove in runs. Kastelic (3), Boyd (2), Davis (2), and Hansen (2) all had two or more hits as Allegheny improved to 2-3.
Game two saw Union answer, as the Dutchmen would get out to a 4-0 lead of their own in the top of the third. However, Allegheny would answer quickly, plating three in the bottom of the third.
The rally would start off when James Kim led off by drawing a walk. Frank Triozzi would move Kim over to second as he to walked, setting the Gators up with runners on first and second with no one out. Aaron Lynch would move both Kim and Triozzi over with a nice sac bunt, giving Allegheny two runners in scoring position with the top of the line up due to bat.
Davis would step up to the plate and make it count, tripling to left center field and clearing the bases to cut the deficit to 2-4. A sac fly by Gray would inch Allegheny even closer as they ended the inning down just one.
However, Union would add another run in the top of the fourth and hold on to win by a score of 5-3.
Dylan Malone would get the loss, tossing 4.0 innings, giving up five runs and three earned on 10 hits. Davis finished game two going 2-4 with one run scored and two RBI. Boyd would go 2-3, and Kim would finish going 1-2 with one run scored as Allegheny fell to 2-4 on the season.
The Gators will be back at it again tomorrow, when they will take on Kalamazoo at Chain O'Lakes Park. The double-header with Hornets is scheduled for a 10:00 am first pitch.