After hosting a talented Lansing group in a twin bill on Thursday afternoon, the Marian University Ancilla baseball team traveled to Lansing Community College on Friday for a double-header that concluded the season series between the two teams. Despite a great effort in Game-1, fielding tripped up the Chargers late, leading to a 12-2 loss in just five innings. The second game also went the way of the Stars, as Lansing won Game-2 by a 10-2 margin. Below is a look at some highlights from Friday afternoon's action.
Game-1 (L 12-2): Entering the 5th inning of the first game, the Chargers trailed Lansing by a single run, 3-2. However, the Stars took advantage of three Charger errors in the inning, then added a walk, four singles, and two doubles to the mix, and the Stars were able to walk off the game with a 12-2 lead with two outs in the inning.
After pressing the rewind button, though, the Chargers played a good first four innings. Lansing jumped out to a 3-0 lead as they used two singles, a double, and a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 1st inning to claim the early lead. But the Chargers weren't going to go away. In the top of the 3rd inning, Sophomore Matteo Lindia led off with a double to right field. Sophomore James Riddle then singled on a ground ball to center field, and Lindia scored from second base.
Sophomore Conner Boone then stepped to the plate and hit another ground ball single to center, allowing Riddle to advance all the way to third base. Then, with runners on the corners, Boone stole second base. Freshman Cade Riley grounded out to the shortstop on the next pitch, but Riddle was able to cross home, making it 3-2 Stars.
The Chargers would threaten again in the top of the 4th and the top of the 5th innings, as they had two runners aboard each time, but they couldn't score them. Sophomore Tyler Bumbalough (0-1) drew the start on the mound, and he pitched 4.2 innings, allowing 9 runs, but only 5 were earned. In fact, only 5 of the 12 Lansing runs were earned.
Game-2 (L 10-2): The Stars got a nice outing from their pitching staff, as three pitchers combined for the 7.0 innings, allowing just 5 hits, while striking out 9 batters. Lansing plated 3 runs in the bottom of the 1st inning once again to jump out to a 3-0 lead. They picked up another pair of runs in the bottom of the 2nd, and it was 5-0, Stars.
With two outs in the top of the 3rd, Conner Boone walked, Cade Riley was hit by a pitch, then Freshman Blaze Schultz walked to load the bases. Freshman Isaiah Steinhilber was then hit by a pitch, scoring Boone, and making the score 5-1.
Lansing answered in the bottom of the 3rd with a leadoff double and a 2-run home run, extending their lead to 7-1. The Stars picked up two more runs in the bottom of the 5th, and suddenly it was an insurmountable lead at 9-1. They would later add a 10th run in the bottom of the 6th inning.
The Chargers did score again in the top of the 7th. Boone led off the inning with a single, stole second base, then reached third due to a Lansing error. Schultz stepped to the plate with one out and hit a ground ball into left field, scoring Boone. That produced the final score of the evening: 10-2 Stars.
Sophomore Nathan Marshman (5-6) started the game and lasted 2.0 innings. Sophomore Christian Conder and Freshman Traevyn Shoaf both pitched in relief.
Weather pending, the Chargers will conclude their season next weekend with a pair of double-headers against Kalamazoo Valley. Thursday, the Chargers will travel to Michigan, for games scheduled at 2:00 and 4:30 p.m. Saturday, they will finish at home, with those games set for 1:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Please come out and support Charger baseball one last time!!
