PITTSBURGH, PA - This afternoon La Roche Baseball battled in a doubleheader against a conference opponent, Hilbert College.
GAME ONE
The Redhawks struggled to get their offense going against a touch Hawks hurler. However, La Roche remained scrappy to never be out of the competition.
Hilbert was the first on the board, and La Roche answered them in the third inning to cut their lead in half. The offensive charge was led by lead-off hitter Zach Kieb who singled on a ground ball to center field. Tanner Kobal pushed him across the plate with a big double to left field. Sam DiCicco returned the favor and smacked a hard single to allow Kobal to cross the plate, making the score 2-4.
The Hawks would add one more run in the fourth inning to extend their lead to 3 runs but would remain scoreless for the final 3 innings.
The Redhawks made an effort to come back in the 11th hour. Kobal once again led the charge with a single. Stutz reached base after being hit by a pitch, putting two ducks in play. Kyle Weitzel joined the party with a line drive single to right field, putting 3 runners on base, and Weitzel himself represented the tying run.
Mason Brooks did not let them down, socking a single into center field, earning him one RBI. A bobble by the Hawks' center fielder gifted Stutz the opportunity to steal home and put the Redhawks down by just 1.
Shane Murphy was intentionally walked by Hilbert's pitching staff, leaving the bases loaded for Danny McCafferey. The junior battled hard at the plate socking one up, but it was caught by the Hawks' defense to leave the Redhawks falling short by just one run.
Jamison Rhoades recorded the loss on the mound. The hurler lasted 5 innings, surrendering 5 runs on 10 hits, and striking out one.
Kobal and Weitzel recorded multiple hits in game one, Kobal leading going 3-for-4 at-bats.
GAME TWO
Game two was not for the weak of heart, whether you were keeping track via live stream, live stats, or in person.
Your Redhawks fought back in the bottom of the ninth inning, after giving up 6 runs to the Hawks, putting themselves down by 8 when they took their final turn at the plate. Here's what happened.
La Roche won the battle to be first on the board, driving one run in the first inning, and then 3 more in the second inning, giving them a 4-0 lead.
However, Hilbert answered, scoring one run in the top of the third, and four more in the fourth.
The Redhawks tied things up in the bottom of the fourth inning 5-5. Both teams held scoreless for the 5th inning, but the same would not hold true for the sixteen innings. The Hawks added 3 runs to their tally, officially taking back the lead.
La Roche attempted to chip away at their lead, scoring one run in the seventh inning, but things got away from the team in the eighth inning. The team surrendered six runs to Hilbert, officially putting them down by 8. But, if we've learned anything from this La Roche team, it's to never count them out until the very last pitch.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Nate Darwin got things moving with a single to left field. Danny McCafferey took one for the team and took a pitch to the arm to earn a spot on first and move Darwin to second, playing him in the scoring position. On a wild pitch, both base runners moved up a bag putting two ducks in the right place to score.
Mason Brooks did not let them down, he socked one straight to the Hawks' shortstop who could not make a play, allowing Darwin to score, and McCafferey to take his place on third. Jared Hough singled on a live drive to right field, pushing McCafferey over the plate and Brooks to advance to second. Sam DiCiccoo battled at the plate to earn himself a walk, moving all runners around one. A new pitcher for Hilbert made his way to the mound, and his first battle resulted in a walk for Josh Dryer, earning an RBI, moving the loaded bases around; putting the score at 14-9, Redhawks down by 5.
Danny Suarez socks a sacrifice fly to center field but allows Hough to tag and score, and DiCicco to move to third base.
Zach Keib grounded into a fielder's choice, but the Hawks got Dryer out advancing to second, leaving DiCicco free to cross home plate and add another run for the Redhawks. The team now had two outs against them, but they were not willing to hang up their helmets quite yet.
Tanner Kobal fought hard at the plate and was rewarded by reaching first on an error committed by the Hilbert shortstop. Keib took the opportunity to move to second base.
Darwin came back up to the plate, and the Redhawk that started the team come back with a single. He decides a single isn't enough a socks a double that almost reaches the wall in left field, clearing the bases, and putting La Roche down by just one run (14-13).
Up to bat was McCafferey, who showed nerves of steal and patience as he earns himself a walk. With the tying and the winning run on base, Brooks stepped back up to the box. He fought hard until the very last pitch, but in the end, surrendered the Redhawks' third and final out.
La Roche utilized four pitchers through the heart-racing contest. Shane Murphy and Cameron Mauk were on the mound the longest, both lasting just over three innings. Murphy surrendered 5 runs on 6 hits, while Mauk released 6 runs on 7 hits. Both struck out 4 batters.
Dylan Chan and Jared Hough each came in to pitch an inning in relief.
Brooks led the Redhawks at the plate, earning 3 hits in 4 at-bats.
La Roche will be back, weather permitting this Sunday in a single nine-inning game against Wooster College. The first pitch is planned for 1 PM.