Baseball Swept on Final Day of Cusic Classic
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mitchell | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 2 |
|
Salem St. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | X | 9 | 15 | 2 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Kenyon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 14 | 3 |
|
Mitchell | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Mitchell College baseball team lost 6-2 to Kenyon College and 9-6 to Salem State University on the final day of play at the Gene Cusic Classic on Wednesday.
Mitchell scored a run in the third inning and another in the ninth but managed little else against Kenyon starter Tyler Dierke, who worked into the final frame and allowed only four hits while striking out nine. The Lords finished the game with 14 hits led by a 3-for-4 day by Kyle Hardacker.
Senior Ethan Graynor led off the third with a walk and scored from second base on a triple by freshman Gavin LaLima to give the Mariners a 1-0 lead. Freshman starter Mike Sturges did his best to preserve the margin, retiring 11 straight batters at one point and allowing only one hit over the first four innings.
Mitchell surrendered the lead in the top of the fifth as Kenyon pushed across two runs on three hits with the benefit of a throwing error. The Lords added another run in the sixth and then broke the game open with a three-run eighth inning to lead 6-1.
The Mariners (1-6 overall) drew back-to-back walks to start the ninth, forcing Kenyon to pull Dierke and go to the bullpen in favor of Alex Kendall. Mitchell then scored a run on a fielding error before Kendall worked out of the jam by getting a double play and strike out to end the game.
Sturges threw 7.1 innings and allowed six runs (five earned) on 11 hits while striking out two. Junior Tyler Shultis and freshman Matt Tallarini finished out the game in relief and didn't allow a run.
In the second game against Salem State, Mitchell took a 3-0 lead into the fifth inning before the Vikings rallied back. Salem (6-1 overall) took the lead in the sixth inning and put the game away in the eighth behind long home runs by Brett Cahill and Ethan Trowt.
Mitchell (1-7 overall) returns home to open conference play against Newbury College on Sunday, March 18. The first pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m.
