In a final tune-up before they head to Florida for the annual RussMatt Invitational, the Marian University Ancilla Baseball team scheduled a round-robin with Highland Community College out of Illinois and the Milwaukee Area Technical College out of Wisconsin at Loeb Stadium in Lafayette, Indiana. The late-weekend series is spread across Sunday, February 23rd, and Monday, February 24th. Sunday, the Chargers had just one game scheduled for themselves...a 7-inning evening contest against Highland...and despite a big 7-run 4th inning, the Chargers couldn't hold on and ultimately fell, 9-7.
As for the fireworks, with one out in the 4th inning, Freshman Jaxson Hixson drew a walk for Marian Ancilla, then Freshman Nolan Pizzo was hit by a pitch. Freshman Rory Bradney pinch ran for Pizzo, just before Freshman Kaleb Short singled to load the bases. Freshman Jose Paris then walked, scoring Hixson, and the Chargers were on the board. A 3-pitch strikeout (which was out #2) immediately made it look like runs could be limited, but Freshman Logan Clark and Freshman Tanner Coble each followed with singles, Freshman Wes McNeff hit a line drive double into center field, and Freshman Owen Negron grounded to third base, reaching safely on an error, and suddenly MUAC had 7 runs in the inning/game.
Unfortunately, the Chargers were snakebitten by walks and errors, especially in the 5-run 2nd inning and the 2-run 4th inning. All-in-all, the Cougars were able to utilize 9 walks and 3 errors to manufacture 9 runs of their own on just 5 hits, even though they struck out 9 times in six trips to the plate.
Sophomore Blaze Schultz (0-1) was credited with the loss for the Chargers, as he appeared in relief, however, he, Freshman starter Evan Lanphier, and Freshman reliever Dylan Ford combined for those 9 strikeouts and allowed just 4 earned runs over their 6 innings pitched. Through three games, Charger pitchers have shown electric stuff, striking out 28 batters in just 22.2 innings of work.
Before their trip to the South at the end of the week, Marian Ancilla will finish up this weekend series today with a 2:00 p.m. game versus the same Highland team, then they will turn around and play the Milwaukee Tech Stormers at 5:00 p.m. this evening. Both games will again take place at Loeb Stadium in Lafayette, Indiana. Please come out and support the Chargers, if you are able!!