Thursday afternoon, the Marian University Ancilla baseball team took on Lake Michigan College at the Red Hawks' campus, and the Chargers managed a split during the road trip. The first game saw a great pitching performance, helping MUAC to the 4-1 win. The second game, however, went the way of the Red Hawks, as Lake Michigan won, 19-7. Below is a look at some highlights from the two games Thursday.

Game-1 (W 4-1): Charger Sophomore Nathan Marshman (5-5) turned in an outstanding performance on the hill in this one, pitching all 7.0 innings, allowing just the 1 run on 2 hits and 1 walk, while striking out 6 batters. The 5-foot-10 righty evened his record on the year at 5-5.

The first two innings at the plate were interesting, as the Chargers reached safely twice via hit batsmen, and once by an error, though they struck out 5 times, preventing them an oppotunity from scoring. But the 3rd inning was much different. Sophomore Conner Boone led off the inning with a single but was caught stealing at second base. Freshman Cade Riley then singled, bringing Sophomore Jomar Negron to the plate. The powerful 6-foot catcher blasted a 2-run home run to left, and it was 2-0, Chargers. MUAC reached twice more in the inning via hit batsmen, but nothing was to come of it.

Lake Michigan put a run on the board in the bottom of the 3rd inning, cutting their deficit in half at 2-1. But that was it for the Red Hawks, as Marshman began to roll. The Chargers finished their scoring in the bottom of the 4th inning, as Riley drove in Sophomore Matteo Lindia on a double to center field, then Negron plated Riley on a ground ball single, picking up his 3rd RBI of the day.

Game-2 (L 19-7): The second game saw the Red Hawks open the scoring in the bottom of the 1st inning, as a sacrifice fly brought in their initial base-runner, and it was 1-0 Lake Michigan. However, the Chargers would respond in the 2nd and 3rd innings, scoring 7 runs, jumping out to a 7-1 lead, and looking in control once again.

In the 2nd inning, the Chargers loaded the bases on a single, a walk, and a catcher's interference call. Sophomore Hunter Smith scored from third base on a passed ball to tie the game 1-1. Sophomore Kennon Kemp then grounded into a fielder's choice, but Freshman Blaze Schultz was able to find home, and it was 2-1. The next batter, Matteo Lindia, singled to right field, scoring Kemp, and it was 3-1, Chargers.

The 3rd inning was much of the same. Conner Boone led off with a double, Cade Riley walked, then Jomar Negron reached on an error, scoring Boone. The next batter, Smith, singled and scored Riley, and the Chargers were up 5-1. Freshman courtesy runner Diego Pettiford did what he does best...run...only this time he safely stole home, and it was 6-1 Chargers. Schultz then made an out on a fly ball, but he earned a sacrifice fly when Smith came around to score, and the Chargers had stretched their lead to 7-1.

But that was the end of the scoring on the day for Marian Ancilla, unfortunately. The Red Hawks began their comeback in the bottom of the 4th inning, when they scored 4 runs on 3 singles, a double, a walk, and an error, trimming the Charger lead to 7-5. Then they were aided by walks, errors, and a hit batsman, erupting in the bottom of the 5th inning for 10 runs and taking an insurmountable lead at 15-7. They polished it off in the bottom of the 6th inning with 4 more runs, extending their lead to 19-7, forcing an end to the game.

The Chargers are back in action Saturday (4/20), as they host the same Red Hawks at the Donaldson, Indiana, MUAC campus. Start times are set for 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Please come out and support the Chargers, as they attempt to even their record on the year!!