The IUS baseball team defeated Manchester College on a rainy afternoon at the Koetter Sports Baseball Complex in the first game of a doubleheader on March 14, by a score of 11-9.
The Grenadiers had lost three straight coming into the game. The win moved the Grenadiers’ record to 9-11.
Manchester got off to a quick start jumping out with three early runs in the top of the first inning.
Craig Roberts, freshman third baseman, got the scoring started for the Grenadiers with an RBI single in the bottom of the first inning allowing Drew Locascio, senior shortstop, to score from third.
Jordan Pass, sophomore second baseman, hit a two-RBI-single to left in the bottom of the second inning to tie the game up 3-3.
Kris Eschman, junior pitcher, allowed one run early in the top of the third but limited the damage by striking out the side to end the threat.
In the bottom of the third inning with bases loaded and no outs, Kevin Foley, senior left fielder, hit a sacrifice fly that allowed Locascio to score.
Manchester’s Tyler Foster, sophomore first baseman, overthrew third and allowed another run to score for the Grenadiers.
The Grenadiers loaded up the bases twice in the inning and scored four to take a 7-4 lead into the top of the fourth inning. Manchester decided to make a pitching change putting in Josh Atkinson, junior pitcher, replacing starter Colin Denihan, senior pitcher.
Van Fowler, junior designated hitter, scored the only run in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Ryan Jones, senior right fielder.
The Spartans came back and tied the game 8-8 with a grand slam by Corey Oetting, senior right fielder, with one out in the top of the fifth inning.
The Grenadiers switched out starting pitcher Eschman and replaced him with Derek Decker, junior pitcher.
Decker was efficient in his relief effort allowing only one run in two innings of work.
Daniel McDonald, sophomore first baseman, hit a three-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning allowing the Grenadiers to take the lead 11-8.
The Spartans were able to add one additional run in the bottom of the seventh inning, but were not able to get any closer and the Grenadiers won the game 11-9.
The Grenadiers finished with 11 runs, 12 hits and one error. The Spartans finished with nine runs, 13 hits and five errors.
By NATALIE DEDAS
Staff Writer
natdedas@ius.edu