GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The #24 Kalamazoo College baseball team split the doubleheader with Calvin by falling in game one 7-3 and winning game two 5-2 to win the MIAA series on Saturday (Apr. 6). The Hornets' record now stands at 16-5 (5-1 MIAA) on the season, and the Knights now have a record of 13-11 (4-2 MIAA).
GAME ONE
Scoring Plays
Calvin scored the game's first run on a Kalamazoo error in the first inning, but then Lukas Bolton responded with a double down the left field line in the second inning to bring in David Stechow.
The Knights responded with six straight runs by scoring two runs in the second and four in the third to take a 7-1 lead. The Hornets brought in two more runs in the fifth inning as Harrison Poeszat doubled, with Cooper Mills and Tanner Hawkins scoring.
Pitching
Braden Mussat (3-1) took the loss after allowing six runs (five earned) on five hits and three walks with two strikeouts in 2.1 innings. Ben Van Nes finished the third inning, giving up an earned run on two hits and two walks.
Blake Parpart threw four scoreless innings out of the bullpen, allowing just two hits and striking out two. Kaden Sotomayor pitched a scoreless final inning with a strikeout.
Hitting
Harrison Poeszat went 2-5 with two doubles and two RBI. Lukas Bolton also recorded two hits, including a double. Cooper Mills got on base four times with four walks. Tanner Hawkins reached base twice on a hit and a walk.
GAME TWO
Scoring Plays
After Calvin scored the first run in the first inning on a fielder's choice, Kalamazoo scored three straight runs to lead 3-1 after four innings. Alex Fenkell hit his first career home run on a solo shot in the third inning. After Ryar Rinehart and Tanner Hawkins walked in the fourth inning, Lukas Bolton brought them in on a single up the middle.
The Knights got back within a run after scoring once in the fifth. However, the Hornets scored the game's final two runs in the eighth inning as Logan Lockhart brought in David Stechow and Robert Newland on a single through the right side.
Pitching
Robert Ahlgren got the start and pitched the first 4.1 innings, allowing two runs on five hits with four strikeouts. Reece Omodio was able to record an out after giving up two hits and a walk.
Owen Schihl (1-0) got the win after getting the Hornets out of the jam in the fifth inning. Schihl threw two scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Brenden Oprinski got the save (4) after pitching the final 2.1 innings, allowing just one hit with four strikeouts.
Hitting
David Stechow went 2-3 at the plate with a walk. Cooper Mills, Ryar Rinehart, Tanner Hawkins, Lukas Bolton, Logan Lockhart, and Alex Fenkell were each on base twice with a hit and a walk. Bolton and Lockhart collected two RBI each, and Fenkell picked up the other RBI on the home run.
STATISTICS
2B: Poeszat 2 (10), Bolton (5), Hawkins (8), Lockhart (4), Mills (4)
3B: none
HR: Fenkell (1)
RBI: Bolton 2 (18), Lockhart 2 (21), Poeszat 2 (34), Fenkell (11)
Sac Fly: none
Sac Bunt: Stechow (6)
SB: none
BB: Mills 5 (25), Hawkins 2 (10), Rinehart 2 (8), Bolton (8), Fenkell (6), Lockhart (7), Stechow (6)
HBP: Newland 2 (17), Hawkins (5)
(Season Total)
Up Next
Kalamazoo will head to Hope for a rescheduled single game on Monday, Apr. 8, beginning at 4 p.m.