by Geoff Roberts/Owens Sports Information
Toledo, Ohio---Nick Street (Rockford/Rockford, Mich.) picked up the win in the second game of a doubleheader against Lansing Community College on Thursday afternoon as the Express picked up a split heading into conference play.
The Express dropped the first game of the set 10-6, but the bats came alive in the second game of the afternoon and the Express pulled out the 15-0 victory in five innings.
Game 1: Lansing 10 Owens 6
The Express got a late-inning three-run rally, but in the end couldn't match the offensive output of the Stars.
The Stars big inning came in the third when they plated five runs after a shaky inning for LHP Joseph Slivik (Warren Mott/Warren, Mich.).
The Stars later carried a 8-3 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning. Alex Samson (Orrville/Orrville, Ohio) led the inning off for the Express with a single and Tiger Jaso (Kansas Lakota/Kansas, Ohio) followed with another single and then stole second. After an Express strikeout, things got interesting.
With runners on second and third, Alec Skender (Metamora/Metamora, Ill.) was able to single into right field, where it got past the Stars right fielder. Samson was able to score from third easily and Jaso followed. Skender blew past first, rounded second and as he was heading to third, Stars second baseman Mitch Diamond fired an errant throw past third base - allowing Skender to score.
The deficit had been trimmed to two, but that's as far as the rally would go. The Stars were able plate two more runs in the top of the seventh and turn a double play in the bottom half to end the game.
Slivik (0-2) went four innings for the Express, allowing five hits, seven runs and seven walks while striking out six. Dustin Osborne (Barberton/Barberton, Ohio) went the final three innings while allowing four hits, one walk and three runs. He struck out one.
Four players had two hits apiece for the Express including Skender, Taran Temple (Delta/Muncie, Ind.), Samson and Jaso.
Game 2: Owens 15 Lansing 0 (5 innings)
Behind a great shutout performance by Street and a nine-run third inning, the Express were able to earn the split in the doubleheader.
The Express jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a sacrifice fly from Tyler Byerly (Washington Township/Crown Point, Ind.) before adding nine runs in the third inning.
Every player in the lineup was able to score a run in that third inning, while the Express tallied six hits and three walks in 15 plate appearances.
Up 10-0, the Express added five more in the next inning - highlighted by back-to-back RBI singles from Austin Legate (Strongsville/Strongsville, Ohio) and Michael Finch (Norwalk/Norwalk, Ohio). The hit for Legate was his third of the game, while he finished 3-for-3. Jaso also added an RBI single in the inning, while the other runs came on an error and a wild pitch.
With the 15-0 lead, the game was called after five.
Street (1-0) allowed three hits and three walks while striking out six in his complete game.
Legate (3-for-3, R, BB, RBI) and Temple (3-for-4, 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI led the Express offensively. Byerly and Jaso each added two hits, while Byerly had two RBIs.
Notes
The Express are now 3-7 this year, while three of their losses have been by one run. They will open conference play on the road over the next two days with back-to-back doubleheaders against Sinclair Community College. Tomorrow's start is 3 p.m. and Saturday's is 1 p.m.
Legate went 4-for-6 in the doubleheader, while Temple finished 5-for-7.
Today's first game was the home opener for the Express, who had not played since March 7 in Panama City, Fla.
Today's first game was played in cool, slightly windy conditions while the second included a steady drizzle throughout with increasing winds blowing toward right field.