PLYMOUTH (IN) - The Marian University Ancilla Baseball team knew they had their work cut out for them Thursday afternoon, as they welcomed to town the 7th ranked Kellogg Bruins (ranking per the NJCAA Division II poll). Kellogg looked every bit of the obstacle, as they began the game by scoring 5 runs in the top of the 1st inning.

However, in the bottom of the 1st inning, the Chargers utilized consecutive 1-out singles by Freshman Devon Ortiz, Freshman Cade Quick, and Freshman Michael Fry to load the bases. Following a second out, with the bases still loaded, Redshirt Freshman Owen Negron hit a hard ground ball to centerfield, reaching safely with a single, while driving in Ortiz and Quick to cut the lead to 5-2. Sophomore Jaxson Hixson then reached via an error to once again load the bases.

Next, Sophomore Jose Paris stepped to the plate and hit a ground ball to shortstop, reaching safely at first base while driving in Fry, making it 5-3. Negron scored on error by the pitcher on a pickoff attempt, then Sophomore Kaleb Short followed with a walk to load the bases once more, and the score was trimmed to 5-4. Sophomore Logan Clark finished the rally with a walk of his own, scoring Hixson, and the Chargers had come all the way back in one inning to knot the game at 5 apiece.

In the second inning, the Chargers recorded three Bruin outs in a row, and things looked like they had turned their way. In the bottom half of the inning, MUAC got 2 runners aboard with just 1 out, however, a double play erased any attempt at scoring again, keeping it at an even 5-5.

From there, it was all Bruins in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th innings. Marian Ancilla managed just one base-runner...Paris singled in the bottom of the 3rd inning...but that was it. Over the final 3 innings, Kellogg managed a pair of home runs, they drove in 7 runs in the top of the 3rd inning, and they drove in 5 runs in the top of the 5th inning, for the 17-5 final score.

The Chargers are back at it tomorrow (3/28), as they head to Lansing Community College to take on the Stars. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00p, and this will be a single 9-inning contest between the conference rivals. Please come out and support these young men, if you are able!!