MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Northern teams often have to jump right from indoor practice to outdoor games when they make their first trip south. That transition may have led to some shaky defense, as the Edgewood College baseball team committed five errors in a 9-7 loss to NCAA Division II program Christian Brothers University. The Eagles had built a 6-0 lead through the first four at-bats.
Edgewood College took advantage of some wildness from the Christian Brothers' pitching staff turning three walks and a wild pitch into two runs in the second inning. The Eagles tacked on another run in the third on a Marc Ostrowskisingle that drove home Alex Jaskulski. The Eagles really looked in control in the top half of the fourth inning. Andrew Lauritzen and Jake Zadra hit sacrifice flies andRyan O'Dell ripped an RBI double down the left field line to give Edgewood College a 6-0 lead.
However, in the bottom of the fourth the Bucs started the comeback, aided by two Edgewood College errors in the infield. Christian Brothers posted four runs, two of which were unearned, to trim the Eagles' lead to 6-4. The score held up until the seventh inning when Ostrowski doubled and was eventually driven in by Aaron Schmidt on a sacrifice fly to put the Eagles up 7-4.
Christian Brothers (5-10) scored two more unearned runs in the seventh, before making their big move in the eighth inning. With two outs and runner at second base, the Bucs rallied with an RBI single from Jarrett Jenkins and back-to-back RBI doubles from Tyler Burnett and Mac Cooley to put the home team ahead 9-7.
Edgewood College had a final chance in the ninth inning when they loaded the bases with a single, a base on balls and a Buc error with one out. However, Christian Brothers closer Jack Parker retired pinch hitter Ben Jennings and Eric Curtis to end the game.
Jaskulski, O'Dell and Ostrowski each went 2-for-4 in the game, with O'Dell and Ostrowski each hitting a double. Edgewood College left runners on base in seven of nine innings for a total of 11 in the game. Edgewood College starting pitcher Trevor Koehn pitched five strong innings, allowing five hits and two unearned runs while striking out three batters. Ryan Busse took the loss in relief, while Brock McGinn came in to close out the bottom of the eighth inning.
Miles Anderson, Christian Brothers' sixth pitcher earned the win, while Parker notched his first save of the season. Jenkins and Cooley each had three hits for Bucs and both of them drove in a run.
Edgewood College will hop on the bus in Memphis, and after an overnight stop in Gainsville, Florida, arrive at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic in Fort Myers, Flordia. The Eagles will open the Classic on Sunday against Principia College (Ill.).