GRANVILLE, Ohio – Just 24 hours after starting their conference schedule with a pair of losses to Wittenberg University, the Allegheny baseball team took the diamond, this time at Denison University, and looked to even their conference record with a doubleheader against the Big Red (11-9, 3-1 NCAC).
Fueled by back-to-back four-run innings in the fourth and fifth of game one, the Gators (8-7, 1-3 NCAC) took the opening matchup 12-6. In game two, the Big Red put up 10 runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to put the game out of reach, and force the split for both teams with a 16-8 win in game two.
Rookie right-hander Kyle Davis picked up the win in the first game, going the distance (seven innings), giving up six runs (four earned), and striking out four batters. Davis is now 4-0 on the bump for the Gators as a starting pitcher, and even has one of the team's four saves. Hitting for himself in the game, Davis drew three bases on balls and scored three runs.
Five Gators had multiple hits in the game. Senior right fielder Zack Nichols went 3-for-4 with three RBI and a pair of runs scored. Rookie third baseman Mike Pezzone was 2-for-3 with a team single-game high five RBI.
In game two, the fourth inning was the proverbial back-breaker as the Big Red plated 10 runs with just five hits to take a 13-1 lead. The Gators would battle back in the game, however, plating four runs of their own in the top of the fifth to cut the deficit to 13-5. Both teams would add three more runs before the end of the game.
Nichols had two more hits and an RBI in game two, giving him five hits (5-for-7) and four RBI on the afternoon.
One of the positives on the afternoon was that the bats were going for the Gators in each game as they totaled 27 hits in the two games, 13 in the first and 14 in the second, while putting up 20 total runs in the process.
Next up for the Gators is their home opener against Penn State-Beaver on Wednesday, March 30th. It is scheduled to be a doubleheader with the first game starting at 1:00 p.m. The game can be followed pitch-by-pitch through the Allegheny Baseball Live Stats link.