SEWANEE, Tenn. (Feb. 14, 2015) – The Sewanee baseball team opened its 2015 season by sweeping visiting Johnson Saturday at historic Montgomery Field. The Tigers won the opener 20-2 and then took the nightcap, 10-1.
Both victories gave newly Sewanee Head Coach David Jenkins an outstanding debut.
Game One – Sewanee 20 – Johnson 2
Sewanee put its season opener away quickly scoring four runs in the first, five in the second, and seven in the third innings.
Right fielder Nathaniel Howard played well from the leadoff spot with a 3-for-4 effort at the plate. Howard also finished with two RBI and four runs scored. Senior Michael Walker also went 3-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored. Starting shortstop Tyler Minkkinen finished 3-for-5 at the plate with three runs scored while Jackson Cooper and Jack Whaley both had muliptle hits and RBI. In fact, Whaley drove in a game-high four.
Overall, Sewanee pounded out 15 hits, which included seven extra-base hits.
On the mound, Harrison Lee took the win after tossing 2.0 hitless innings. In fact, Drew Mancuso (two unearned), Preston Cronk,Marshall Ussery, and Jared Davenport did not give up a single earned run over 7.0 innings.
Game Two – Sewanee 10 – Johnson 1
Unlike the first game, Sewanee did most of its damage on offense late in the contest. Leading 3-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth, Sewanee extended its advantage. After Walker struck out, Tony Dykes reached after being hit by a pitch. Dykes then advanced to second when Ben Clune walked. Dykes would score after Whaley singled and Johnson's shortstop committed an error. Clune would then score whenRyan Poole hit a deep fly ball to left.
An inning later, Sewanee put the game out of reach. The Tigers scored five runs on five hits in the bottom of the sixth.
Overall Drew Mancuso, Walker, Dykes, and Whaley all had multiple hits. Whaley again led the team after going 4-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Dykes also played well with three hits, two runs, and one RBI.
On the hill Addison Jones earned the win after allowing only two hits in 2.0 innings while striking out one. Nathan Warren, Ryan Tillman, and J.T. Hintzen also tossed scoreless innings for Sewanee.
The Tigers continue their early season homestand with three games against Earlham next weekend.
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