By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Toledo, OH---The Express baseball team dropped a pair of games to Lakeland Community College at home today, and both losses came in the seventh inning.
Game 1: Lakeland 5 Owens 4
Behind strong pitching from Dane Davis, the Express jumped out to a 3-0 lead through four.
In the second, Dominic Bucci knocked in Austin Cowan with a two-out RBI single to put the Express up 1-0. Later, in the fourth, Ryan Horvath got another two-out hit, this time a two-run double that scored Alex Samson and Benjamin Breymier to put the Express up 3-0.
Lakeland pulled within two in the fifth thanks to an RBI groundout from Mike Sutkayt.
The score would remain the same until the seventh. After Lakeland's leadoff batter walked, Andrew Dito hit a grounder to short that Nick Collins couldn't handle - resulting in runners on first and second with no outs. Following a pop out to second, Matt Wheeler singled to load the bases.
Tony Connach followed with a two-run single, and Wil Shortree lined a sacrifice fly two batters later that ended up scoring two runs to make it 5-3.
In the bottom half, the Express loaded the bases with no outs, but Logan Shullick grounded into a run scoring double play and Cowan lined out to right field to end the game.
Davis started the seventh for the Express and pitched to the first four batters before exiting. Sean Koerber relieved him and pitched the rest of the inning.
The final line for Davis, who took the loss, was 6.1 innings, six hits, four runs (two earned), two walks and three strikeouts. Koerber allowed two hits and one run (zero earned), while striking out one, in 0.2 innings.
John Gora got the win for the Lakers as he allowed nine hits and four runs (three earned), while striking out three over seven innings.
Bucci (2-for-3, RBI) and Justin Elder (2-for-4) led the Express offensively, while Horvath finished 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Connach led the Lakers with a 2-for-4, one run, two RBI game.
Game 2: Lakeland 7 Owens 3
The Express fought back from a 3-1 deficit with two runs in the last half of the sixth, but allowed four runs in the next half inning to take the loss in game two.
Each team scored once in the first. Shortree had an RBI double for the Lakers to open the scoring before Nate Manis singled, advanced to second on an error, stole third and scored on a wild pitch to tie it up in the bottom half.
In the fourth, the Lakers scored twice. The first run came on a fielding error, while the second came on an RBI single from Matt Wheeler.
The Express then tied it up in the sixth. The first run came on a throwing error by the Lakers, while the second came on a fielder's choice RBI groundout from Samson.
In the seventh, the Lakers loaded the bases with no outs before getting a sacrifice fly, a two-run double and another sacrifice fly to go up 7-3.
The Express were then only able to get a two-out walk by Manis in the last half.
The Express offense only managed three hits (Elder, Manis, Collins) against Lakeland starter Brandon East, who picked up the complete game victory. East allowed three runs (zero earned) and five walks while striking out six.
Luke Whelpton started for the Express and picked up the no decision. The freshman lefty tossed four innings, while allowing seven hits, three runs (one earned) and two walks. He struck out four.
Sam Hackney relieved him and went the next 2.1 innings before being followed by Nick Morrow. Hackney allowed two hits, four runs and one walk with two strikeouts, while Morrow allowed one hit in 0.2 innings.
Samson picked up the lone RBI for the Express offense.
Notes
With the two losses today, the Express fall to 5-12 overall and 1-5 in the OCCAC. They will play another home doubleheader against Lakeland tomorrow beginning at 1 p.m.
