by Geoff Roberts/Owens Sports Information
Toledo, Ohio---Alec Skender (Metamora/Metamora, Ill.) helped the Express with a team-high three RBI and a crucial hit to help secure the win in game one of a doubleheader this afternoon. The Express would fall in game two, however, and earn the split with Heidelberg JV.
Game 1: Owens 8 Heidelberg JV 6
Tyler Huth (Northrop/Fort Wayne, Ind.) got his second win of the season as the Express offense was able to overcome the six-run tally by Heidelberg JV.
Leading the way for the Express was Skender, who hit a key two-RBI double into the gap in right center in the fifth inning that gave Owens an 8-6 lead.
Entering the bottom of the fifth, the Express trailed 6-5. Austin Legate (Strongsville/Strongville, Ohio) got a single with one-out and a Taran Temple (Delta/Muncie, Ind.) double put runners on second and third.
Tiger Jaso (Kansas Lakota/Kansas, Ohio) drove a ball to right centerfield that plated Legate. After a strikeout, Skender delivered his two-out double, driving in Temple and Jaso.
Kyle Bennett (Grove City/Grove City, Ohio) took care of the Heidelberg lineup in the sixth-inning, allowing zero hits, one walk, and getting one strikeout.
The Express handed the ball over to Dru Sebastian (Blackhawk Christian/Fort Wayne, Ind.) for the seventh, who pitched a perfect 1-2-3 seventh inning, earning his second save of the season.
Joseph Slivik (Warren Mott/Warren, Mich.) started for the Express, allowing six runs on four hits. The lefty had four strikeouts on the day but had some trouble locating his pitches, giving up eight walks before Huth replaced him midway through the fifth inning.
Huth had a runner reach base on an error before retiring the other two batters he faced.
Anthony Perez (Orrville, Orrville, Ohio) was a strong contributor for Owens as well with his two RBI. His second inning, two-run double helped the Express take an early lead.
Game 2: Heidelberg JV 8 Owens 4
The Express couldn't overcome a six-run fifth inning offensively for Heidelberg JV in the second matchup of the doubleheader.
The game started fairly back-and-forth with the two teams trading runs until the Express took the lead in the fourth. Jaso scored on a throwing error, while Ardian Selmani (Southview/Sylvania, Ohio) scored on a Chad Lupher (East Knox/Bladensburg, Ohio) RBI groundout to make it 4-2.
Heidelberg got a lot of help offensively from centerfielder T.J. Harkness who went 5-for-5 with three RBI.
Jared Terrill (Shrine Catholic/Huntington Woods, Mich.) got the start for the Express and went two innings, while striking out one and allowing one run and four walks.
He was relieved by Michael Finch (Norwalk/Norwalk, Ohio), who came into the game from right field and surrendered five runs on only one hit while striking out three.
Nick Street pitched the last 2.2 innings for Owens, allowing two runs on three hits, four walks, and one strikeout.
Lupher and Zach Kazmierski (Whitmer/Toledo, Ohio) were the top offensive performers for the Express in game two, each going 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Wrap Up
With the split, the Express are 6-12 on the year. They return to the diamond on Saturday and Sunday at noon to take on Lakeland Community College in a pair of home doubleheaders.