The Oglethorpe baseball team allowed 10 runs combined to Pacific Lutheran over the fourth and fifth innings Saturday afternoon at Anderson Field. The Stormy Petrels attempted a comeback in the ninth, but it was too late and the visiting Lutes hung on for a 14-10 win. The loss dropped the Petrels to 1-5 on the season.
After Pacific Lutheran jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, the Petrels responded with two of their own in the bottom half. They picked up an unearned run off a Lute pickoff error, then tied the game when senior left fielder Jacob Gassert drove in senior right fielder Patrick Burnette with an infield single, making it 2-2. Oglethorpe added a run and took the lead in the third inning when senior designated hitter Andrew Mink led off the frame with a home run over the left-field fence.
However, the Lutes responded with six runs in the fourth inning and four more in the fifth, giving themselves a 12-3 advantage. The home side got a single run back in the sixth when Mink was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Pacific Lutheran added two more in the ninth to take a 14-4 lead.
The Petrels loaded the bases with one out in the frame. Four straight batters followed with RBIs, bringing the Petrels back into the game. An infield single by freshman shortstop Billy Finch, a couple of singles by junior second baseman Austin Jackson by Burnette, and the second bases-loaded hit batsman of the game by Mink made the score 14-8 with still only one out. Senior first baseman Jack Bartlewski reached base for the second time in the inning and drove in two with a single to right and suddenly the score was 14-10 and Oglethorpe had the tying run in the on-deck circle. They were unable to extend the rally any further, though, and fell by the four-run margin.
Jackson went 4-for-6 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Bartlewski went 3-for-5 with a walk, two RBIs and a run scored, while Finch went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored.
The Petrels knocked 16 hits, giving them five more than their opponent. However, they couldn't overcome the two big Pacific Lutheran innings.
Oglethorpe will be back in action on Sunday, when they take on George Fox at approximately 12:15 p.m. from Anderson Field. After that, the Petrels get set to host Washington and Lee at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.