The Oglethorpe baseball team completed a comprehensive doubleheader sweep of Rust Tuesday evening at Anderson Field. The Stormy Petrels won the first game 15-0 in five innings and took the second game, 8-3.
Coming into the game on a seven-game losing streak, the Petrels got off to a huge start in Game 1. They scored nine runs in the first inning and ended any thought that the streak would continue. Designated hitter Patrick Kulick launched a two-run homer to deep right field to give Oglethorpe a 2-0 lead. Then, first baseman Casey Tuttle followed with a two-run single that got under the glove of the Rust right fielder, allowing Tuttle to reach third on an error. Catcher Hunter Riley singled through the right side of the infield, plating Tuttle and extending the Oglethorpe lead to 5-0. Third baseman Frank Sarno followed with a two-run single and the Petrels scored two more runs in the inning on a Bearcat error and a wild pitch, ending the inning with a 9-0 lead.
The Petrels tallied another run in the third on a Rust error, and then they scored five more in the fourth. An RBI single by left fielder Joey McAlpin and an RBI walk by T.J. Schmutz highlighted the inning.
Petrel starter Kyle Mitchell tallied a shutout for his third win of the year. He allowed just two hits and struck out eight Rust hitters without walking a batter.
Sarno went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while McAlpin went 2-for-2 with two walks and an RBI. Riley went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored, and second baseman Will Hanna went 1-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored.
In Game 2, Rust got off to a 1-0 lead in the first, but the Petrels answered back in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI single from third baseman Austin Ferlita. Oglethorpe broke the tie in the bottom of the third on a two-run double by designated hitter Casey Innis, then the Petrels broke it open again with three unearned runs in the fourth, one of them coming on a sacrifice fly from shortstop Spencer Transue. Transue picked up two more RBIs in the fifth when his double into the left-center field gap scored first baseman Tyler Blamble and catcher Curry Mapes.
Alexander Martin picked up the first victory of his collegiate career, allowing a run on two hits over five innings. He struck out five Bearcats and did not walk any.
Transue went 2-for-3 with two doubles, a sacrifice fly, three RBIs and a run scored. Second baseman Keith Dearden went 2-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base, while Ferlita went 2-for-2 with a walk, and RBI and a run scored. Innis finished 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.
With the victories, the Petrels improve to 12-17 on the season. They'll complete their four-game series with Rust when the Bearcats return to Anderson Field on Wednesday at 3 p.m. for another doubleheader.