Thursday afternoon, the Marian University Ancilla baseball team hosted the Lansing Community College Stars in a Michigan Community College Athletic Association matchup. Lansing has long been a power in MCCAA baseball, so the Chargers expected a tough game. They battled until the end, but ultimately the Stars' pitching staff shone brightly, leading Lansing to a 6-1 victory.

The Stars began the game with a 1-out triple in the top of the 1st inning, but after a walk, and with runners on first and third base, Lansing attempted a double steal. The runner from first headed toward second base, and as Sophomore catcher Austin Hear released the ball, the Stars' runner on third took off for home. Sophomore shortstop Conner Boone intercepted the throw to second base and immediately fired it back to Hear, who tagged the runner from third in time for out number two. One pitch later, the batter stuck out and the Chargers escaped the 1st without allowing a run.

The Chargers then threatened in the bottom of the 1st, as Boone led off with a single on the first pitch he saw, then Freshman Cade Riley walked. Hear laid down what appeared to be an outstanding bunt to the third base side of the mound, but the umpire said he contacted the ball outside of the batter's box, called him out, and returned the runners to first and second base. Two strikeouts later and it was 0-0 after one complete inning.

Lansing got on the board in the top of the 2nd, as they led off with a walk, then one out later they hit a hard single to left, and between the single and an ensuing error on the play, the runner from first base came all the way around to score, making it 1-0 Stars.

The Stars put two more runs on the scoreboard in the 4th inning when they led off with a double, added a walk, then hit two 2-out singles to right field. Lansing led 3-0 at this point, but it never felt like they were pulling away, however the Chargers were struggling for base-runners to this point as well.

In the top of the 6th, following a double, a walk, and two wild pitches, Lansing hit a sacrifice fly to add another run, and it was 4-0.

Lansing finished their scoring in the top of the 8th inning. On the second pitch he saw, Vince Hardy hit a high fly ball to right-center field that seemingly hung up there for a while. It finally exited the ballpark for a solo home run, and it was 5-0, Stars. Later in the inning, Lansing walked, singled, and doubled to score their final run, putting them ahead 6-0 at the time.

The Chargers, who have had explosive innings all season, looked to be approaching one in the bottom of the 8th, as tides seemed to be turning. Freshman Traveyn Shoaf led off the inning with a single, advanced to second base on a wild pitch, then made it to third base on a flyout. With two outs, Hear walked, then Sophomore Tyler Bumbalough was hit by a pitch, loading the bases for the Chargers, and things were getting exciting.

Freshman Blaze Schultz took a strike, then four consecutive balls, and "drove" in the first run for MUAC via a walk, as Shoaf crossed the plate to cut it to 6-1. Sophomore Rudy Ramos stepped to the plate, and the outfield was playing noticeably shallow. Ramos hit a fly ball to right field, forcing the outfielder to retreat with urgency. But as the defender fell backwards and tumbled, he rolled to a stop with the ball in his glove for the third out of the inning, and the Charger rally was thwarted.

The 9th inning didn't bring a ton of action, and the Lansing Stars were able to finish off the 6-1 win.

Sophomore Nolan Green (0-2), typically the Charger's closer, drew the start and went 3 strong innings, allowing just 1 run (unearned), while striking out 2. He was unfortunately credited with the loss. Sophomore Christian Conder pitched a scoreless, hitless inning and 2/3 on the back end, stiking out a batter as well.

Lansing starter Sean Bartlett (2-0) went 7 scoreless innings, allowing just 3 hits, walking 2, while striking out 11 batters. The Stars struck out 14 Charger batters in total.

The Charger baseball team is back in action today, as they host Kalamazoo Valley Community College at 3:00 p.m. ET in a single, 9-inning game. This game was originally scheduled for Saturday (3/30), but with impending weather and the Easter weekend in mind, it was moved to today. Softball will be playing a double-header today on their field with the same start time, so please come out and support all of the Charger student-athletes!!