PORTAGE (MI) - Thursday afternoon, the Marian University Ancilla Baseball team began a 4-game weekend series against the Kalamazoo Valley Cougars. In the first game Thursday, it took extra innings, but the Cougars completed a comeback to defeat the Chargers 6-5 in 10 innings. Game-2 went in Kalamazoo Valley's favor from the outset, scoring 7 runs in the 2nd inning and 2 more in the 3rd inning, on their way to a 16-6 win. Below is a quick look at some notes from each game.
GAME-1 (L 6-5 in 10 innings): The Chargers actually led this game 5-2 entering the bottom of the 7th inning, but Kalamazoo Valley mounted a 3-run comeback to knot the game at 5 runs apiece, then, with 2 outs in the bottom of the 10th inning, they pushed ahead the winning run. On the whole, Sophomore Kaleb Short started and pitched 6 2/3 strong innings, allowing 4 earned runs while striking out 5. Freshman Michael Fry (0-2) came in, in relief, and was pitching a scoreless 3 innings until that final run came across the plate. He collected 4 strikeouts in his time on the mound.
The Chargers did manage to outhit the Cougars, 13-9, but they also had 5 extra base hits, including home runs by Sophomore Logan Clark and Redshirt Freshman Owen Negron. Clark and Negron each drove in 2 runs as well. Sophomore Evan Lanphier and Redshirt Freshman Javier Higham (2) hit doubles, while Higham added a single to go 3-for-3 in the game.
GAME-2 (L 16-6): As mentioned above, after Marian Ancilla scored the first run in the top of the 2nd inning, the Cougars responded with 9 runs over the next two innings to lead 9-1. The Chargers did attempt to battle back, scoring 6 runs in the top of the 5th inning, but the Cougars tallied 7 more runs in the bottom of the 5th for the eventual 16-6 final score.
Freshman Liam Dupuis-Cundy had the biggest hit for the Chargers, driving in 3 runs on a home run. Redshirt Freshman Owen Negron continued his strong day, going 2-for-2 with a single, a double, and 2 runs driven in. Freshman Devon Ortiz, who drove in a run in the first game, also drove in a run during this second game, plus he added a double.
