Toledo, Ohio --- Sophomore designated hitter Logan Shullick drove in four runs, and freshman lefthander Luke Whelpton went 5-2/3 innings as the Owens Express baseball team split a pair of games with Muskegon Community College on Sunday afternoon at Express Field.
The Express took Game 1 by the final of 10-5, but fell in the nightcap to the Jayhawks, 7-3.
Owens cracked the scoring column in their first at-bats in Game 1. First baseman Austin Cowan rapped a two-out single to left, scoring Shullick from third.
The Jayhawks would tie the game at one in the top of the second on an RBI single by catcher Brian Barnes.
The Express would plate three runs in the bottom of the second on an RBI ground out by sophomore shortstop Nick Collins, an RBI single by sophomore left field Nate Manis and a head's up running play by Manis who scampered home after a steal of second by Shullick.
Muskegon got a pair back in the top of the third, but the Express answered back with one of their own in the bottom of the frame on an RBI single by freshman third baseman Dominic Bucci making it 5-3 Express.
Whelpton would retire nine consecutive Jayhawks as the Express continued to score runs. Shullick highlighted a 3-run 4th inning with an RBI triple, and also knocked in another run as Owens scored two more in the 5th inning to make it 10-3.
Muskegon got back to within five at 10-5 on a two-run single by left fielder Stephon Chandonnet, but freshman reliever Nick Street came on to stop the Jayhawk rally and give the Express Game 1.
Manis was 3-4, scoring three runs and driving in one. Shullick was also 3-4, scoring a pair and driving in two. Cowan had a pair of hit with 2 RBI, while Bucci was 2-4 with an RBI.
Whelpton struck out four and walked three in the win. Street fanned one in his 1-1/3 innings of work for the save.
In Game 2, the Jayhawks jumped on Owens starter Jordan Hill early. Muskegon scored a pair in both the 1st and 2nd innings. Center fielder Kory Brown drove in MCC's two-runs in the second with a triple to center field.
The score remained 4-0 until the bottom of the fourth. Freshman catcher Ben Breymier would single to center, scoring Manis to get the Express on the board.
Muskegon pushed the lead to 6-1 in the 6th inning on base hits by catcher Greg Chulski and shortstop Drew Johnson.
Owens made one last push as Shullick drove in a pair with a double to center field, but the Jayhawks tacked on an insurance run in the 7th inning to win, 7-3.
Muskegon starter David Foster got the win going six complete. He gave up three runs (all earned) on four hits, striking out two and walking four.
Hill took the loss for the Express giving up four runs on four hits. He fanned four Jayhawks while walking three.
With the split, the Express record is now 4-7. They return to action on Tuesday, hosting Kalamazoo Valley Community College at 2:00 p.m. The game can be seen locally on BCSN.