The Marian University Ancilla baseball team continued their hot streak in the warm weather of Florida Wednesday afternoon, as the Chargers swept Minnesota North College-Vermilion, 7-4 and 15-9. Both games were exciting from start to finish, including a complete game on the mound, a pair of home runs, and a massive comeback for MUAC. Below is a quick summary of Wednesday's action from the Orlando-area RussMatt Invitational.

GAME-1: The first game of the day had a little of everything, but probably nothing was as important as Freshman pitcher Jacob Hobbs being able to give them a complete 7 innings and help save bullpen arms for later. Hobbs allowed 5 hits and walked 2 while allowing 4 runs, but only 1 run was earned. He also struck out 3 batters. At the plate, the Charger bats picked up where they left off Monday, providing early offense in this game. In the top of the 1st inning, MUAC was able to get on the board following a walk, an error, and a single, when Sophomore Hunter Smith blasted a 3-run home run to left field, scoring Sophomore Kennon Kemp and Freshman Diego Pettiford. In the top of the 4th inning, the Chargers added to their 3-0 lead when Smith singled to score Pettiford again, making it 4-0. Then, with 2 outs, Sophomore Tyler Bumbalough was able to come across on a passed ball, and it was 5-0 Marian Ancilla. The next inning saw the Chargers put up another pair of runs when Freshman Aiden Diaz flew to right field for a single, scoring Bumbalough and Pettiford for a third time. That was it offensively for MUAC, and now they had to fend off the Ironhawks the rest of the way. Vermilion wouldn't go quietly, however. In the bottom of the 5th they used an error, a couple of singles, and a walk to score their first run. They followed that with another single and a sacrifice fly, and it was suddenly 7-3 Marian Ancilla. Then, in the bottom of the 7th inning, they threatened again. The Ironhawks led off with a double, then a walk. Hobbs got a strikeout for the first out, but a fielder's choice helped Vermilion cut the deficit to 7-4, though the second out was recorded. Then to finish the game, Sophomore catcher Austin Hear fired a received pitch down to 1st base to pick off the Ironhawk runner to end the game.

GAME-2: In the second matchup of the day, Vermilion came out hungry to even the score. They got a run immediately in the top of the 1st, scoring on a double to center field. In the top of the 2nd, they scored three times, courtesy of a walk, a hit batsman, and three singles, making it 4-0 Ironhawks. In the top of the 3rd, DeSoto Hood rocketed a solo shot over the left field wall, and suddenly the Chargers trailed 5-0. But MUAC rallied in the bottom of the inning. Sophomore Jomar Negron lined the first pitch he saw over the left field wall, and it was 5-1. Sophomore James Riddle reached on an error and Sophomore Conner Boone singled, then Kennon Kemp singled to second base. Riddle scored immediately, while Boone came around following an error on the shortstop, and it was 5-3. But the Ironhawks were determined to take this game, so they responded in the top of the 4th with four more runs, and it was now 9-3 Vermilion. Luckily, the Marian Ancilla bats were just heating up this game, as they countered with four runs of their own in the bottom of the 4th inning, and it was again a 2-run game at 9-7, Vermilion in front. Riddle doubled to left following a pair of leadoff singles, and Aiden Diaz and Diego Pettiford came around to score. Then, with 2 outs, Austin Hear reached on an error and Riddle was able to touch home plate safely...9-6. Then just before the inning ended, Hear was able to score on a wild pitch, and it was 9-7. This game, the Chargers saved the best for last. In the bottom of the 6th, trailing 9-7, Kemp led off with a walk, then Hear doubled to right and Kemp advanced to third base. Following a strikeout, Sophomore Matteo Lindia singled to center, scoring Kemp...9-8. Consecutive walks then forced Hear in to score, and now it was tied, 9-9. Negron hit a hard ground ball single, and it was 10-9 with the Chargers now in front for the first time. A single by Boone scored a run, a walk by Kemp scored a run, and a triple by Hear brought home all three base-runners, and by the time the dust settled in the 6th, it was 15-9 MUAC. That was it for scoring, but the Chargers at least made the top of the 7th entertaining. Sophomore Nolan Green came on in relief and immediately struck out the first batter, then got the second batter to fly out to Kemp in center field. However, a hit batsman, followed by a catcher's interference call, and then a walk had everyone's heart racing, as the bases were loaded. Green then dialed it back in and was able to strike out the final batter on three straight pitches, earning him his fourth save of the season. Freshman Cooper Gorgievski (1-0) picked up the first win of his career as well.

NOTES: The Chargers are now 8-4 on the season, and can match last season's win total (9-37-1 in 2023) with their next victory. Additionally, the Chargers only won one non-conference game a season ago, plus they have now scored more than half as many runs as they scored all of last season (83 to 163). Also, kind of an anomaly, but without batting, Freshman Diego Pettiford managed to steal 4 bases and score 5 runs on the afternoon!

The Chargers finish their 8-game road trip to the Sunshine State this Friday, March 8th, when they take on Lake Region State College (ND) and Eric Community College (NY). Good luck Charger Baseball!!