Sunday, the Marian University Ancilla baseball team began their 6-day/8-game road trip to the Orlando area with a split of games against the Century College Wood Ducks (MN). Despite a 2-hour rain delay the two teams were able to get in a normal 7-inning contest (winning 9-3), as well as a shortened 5-inning afternoon tilt (falling 6-0). Below is a quick summary from each game.
GAME-1: Century got the scoring started in the top of the 2nd inning, with a 1-out single to shortstop. In the bottom of the 2nd, the Chargers immediately loaded the bases on a walk and two singles, before walking in the tying run, making it 1-1. After recording consecutive outs, Sophomore Conner Boone singled in a pair on a line drive to short. Two pitches later, Sophomore Kennon Kemp hit a line drive to right field, driving in two more runs, and suddenly it was 5-1 Chargers. The very next inning, Sophomore Rudy Ramos singled to left, scoring Sophomore Tyler Bumbalough. Then, with two outs, Boone once again flashed a big bat, driving in two more runs on a line drive to right field, and it was all MUAC, 8-1 through 3. The Wood Ducks threatened in the top of the 5th inning, when they reached on a hit-by-pitch, a single, and a walk, but nothing was to come of it, and they left the bases loaded. Century then led off the 6th inning with back to back doubles, scoring a run, and trimming the lead to 8-2. Marian Ancilla picked up a run in the bottom of the 6th on a sacrifice fly by Sophomore Matteo Lindia, scoring Boone. The Wood Ducks would score once more in the top of the 7th, when they placed two runners aboard, hit into a double play, and the lead runner came around to score. The final tally, 9-3. Boone was huge with his 4 RBIs, while Sophomore Nathan Marshman moved his record to 2-1, pitching 5 strong innings and striking out 3, while just allowing 1 run to cross. Sophomore Nolan Green was credited for his 2nd save of the season, as he worked the 7th inning in relief.
GAME-2: In the shortened second game of the day, Century College scored 6 runs in just 4 turns at bat, while allowing just 5 hits to the Chargers. Century drove in 1 in the 1st inning on a fly ball single to center, they put together a pair of walks, a single, and two doubles to drive in 3 in the 3rd, and they followed that up with a pair of runs due to 3 walks and a passed ball in the bottom of the 4th inning, leading to the 6-0 final score. The Chargers best chance to score was when they loaded the bases with 2 outs in the top of the 3rd, but they coundn't get anyone around to score. Freshman Jacob Hobbs (1-1) was credited with his first loss of the season. Sophomore Austin Hear and Freshman Isaiah Steinhilber each had two of the five total team hits in the contest.
The Chargers were back in action today, March 4th, as they took on Ridgewater College (MN) in Orlando. Stay tuned for updates, as the baseball team returns to action this Wednesday, March 6th, and Friday, March 8th, both double-header days in the Sunshine State. Good luck MUAC baseball!!
