By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Battle Creek, MI---The Express baseball team saw their tournament run and season end today with losses to Delta College and Muskegon Community College.
Game 1: Delta College 3 Owens 0
Express starter Luke Whelpton gave up three runs in the second and third innings, and the Express offense couldn't manage to put any runs across the board in today's first loss.
The Express offense got one hit apiece from Justin Elder, Austin Cowan, Nick Collins and Nolan Rao, while they picked up walks from Nate Manis and Alex Samson. They struck out 10 times.
The closest the Express came to scoring was in the sixth when they put runners on first and third with two outs, but Logan Shullick grounded out to first.
Whelpton allowed seven hits, three runs (two earned) and one walk over three innings. Jordan Hill then dominated the Delta offense over the next four innings. His final line included two hits, one walk and one strikeout.
Sean Koerber pitched the final two innings and didn't allow a runner, while striking out one.
Game 2: Muskegon Community College 9 Owens 1 (Seven Innings)
The Express saw their season end after a close game was broken open by Muskegon in the fifth inning.
Muskegon struck first with an RBI single off Express starter Michael Fry in the first inning.
Then, in the fourth, the Express got a single from Cowan, who advanced to second on a wild pitch with one out. Ryan Horvath then doubled to right field, but Cowan was thrown out at home on a very close play at the plate. On the ensuing at bat, Horvath was picked off at third base.
Muskegon would go on to score three in the fifth, three in the sixth and two more in the seventh to end the game.
Fry went the first five innings and allowed seven hits, seven runs (six earned) and three walks while striking out one.
Nick Street then pitched one + innings and allowed three hits, two runs and one walk.
Notes
The Express closed their season with a 15-29 record, but the team started the postseason 3-0 and advanced the program to its first Region XII tournament appearance since the spring of 2010.
Stay tuned to OwensExpress.com for information on postseason awards.