The Charger baseball team traveled to Mitchell, South Dakota for a double header against Dakota Wesleyan Sunday afternoon. BC dropped a closely contested game one, 11-10, then put together one of their highest scoring performances of the season in game two, winning 14-5. Jake Allen went 5-for-7 on the day with six RBIs including a grand slam in game two.
Game 1 - L, 11-10
The Chargers jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the top of the first. Walter Hunt and Allen drew walks and set up a scoring opportunity for Mike Anthony. Anthony hit a two RBI triple to give the Chargers a 2-0 lead. Jared Sitzmann drew a walk the next at-bat to put runners at the corners. Quentin Evers followed up with a three-run homer and extended the lead 5-0.
In the top of the second, BC looked to add more runs with Cam Riemer and Trey Rogers at the corners with one out. Allen singled to left field, driving in Riemer to push the lead to 6-0. The Tigers got on the board in the bottom of the fourth after Seth Christiansen's RBI double cut the lead to 6-1. Christiansen would later score after a delayed steal, followed by a two-run homer from Cameron Quigley to cut the deficit 6-4.
In the third, the Chargers scored after an RBI double from Evers to take a 7-4 lead. Easton Cone's sac fly drove in Sitzmann, followed by an RBI triple from Matthew Hmielewski gave the Chargers a five-run edge. The Tigers would go on to score five runs in the bottom of the inning, capped off by Matt Bezdicek's RBI single to even the score 9-9.
In the bottom of the fifth, DWU's Quigley belted a solo home run with two outs to give the Tigers their first lead of the game 10-9.
The Chargers tied the game in the top of the sixth after Brayden Artzer scored on an error. The Tigers regained the lead 11-10 after Wyatt Hunt's RBI single in the bottom of the inning.
The Chargers were unable to create momentum in the final inning, falling in order and dropping game one 11-10.
Evers went 2-for-4 at the plate with four RBIs followed by Anthony's 2-for-3 with two RBIs while scoring two runs.
Game 2 - W, 14-5
Ryan Riddle took the mound for the Chargers in game two and went 5.2 innings, recorded a season high 11 strikeouts and gave up four runs.
DWU struck first in the bottom of the first after Bezdicek's RBI double gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the third, BC's Connor Lange doubled to center field, driving in Artzer and Riemer to give the Chargers a 2-1 lead. The Tigers responded in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single from Hunt to even the score.
In the top of the fourth, Hmielewski hit an infield single to put the Chargers on base. He swiped second the next at-bat, putting the Chargers in scoring position. Riemer doubled to left field, and the Chargers had runners on second and third with one out. Trey Rogers walked the next at-bat, loading the bases for Allen. Allen belted a grand slam, his second home run of the season and extended the Chargers lead 6-2. Anthony capped off the scoring in the inning, scoring off a wild pitch.
The Tigers cut into the lead, scoring three runs between the sixth and seventh inning to trail 7-5.
In the top of the ninth, the Charger offense caught fire, scoring seven runs. Evers' RBI double, followed by an RBI single from Matthew Delgado. Dawson Forcella followed up with an RBI single. Sitzmann hit an infield single to score Delgado, and Forcella scored after a sacrifice ground out from Rogers to extend lead 12-5. Allen capped off the scoring, crossing home plate on a wild pitch and the Cliff led 14-5. Brett Sitzmann closed the game out for the Chargers on the mound, recording two K's in the ninth. He pitched two innings and recorded five strikeouts.
Allen went 3-for-4 at the plate with five RBIs, followed by Lange who went 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Anthony went 2-for-4 and drew two walks.
The Chargers improved to 18-10 overall (8-4 GPAC) and return to action Tuesday as they face off against Mayville State University. First pitch of game one is designated for 1:00PM with game two to follow.
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