The Briar Cliff baseball team fell to Mount Marty 10-9 in an extra-inning duel on Sunday afternoon at Bishop Mueller Field.
"Game one was a really good collegiate baseball game", said head coach Corby McGlauflin. "Austin Carter was nails in relief for us. We were inches away from winning on more than one occasion, but couldn't get it done. We need to flush today and be ready to go for a lot of baseball tomorrow!"
On day one of the four-game series, due to the extended first game, game two was suspended until Monday morning. The game will resume in the top of the fourth inning at 11 a.m.
Game 1 – L, 9-10 – 13 Innings
Game one began scoreless in the first inning as both pitchers carded three-up three-down halves.
The Chargers found themselves on the board first with one run in the top of the second frame. After Quentin Evers was hit by a pitch, Jake Allen doubled to put himself and Evers in scoring position. Evers, however, was able to score on a wild throw from the outfield, putting the first run of the game on the board.
Mount Marty answered with a run of their own in the bottom half of the second to even the score at 1-1. The Lancers collected three hits in the inning as the Chargers committed a costly error. The Charger defense was able to escape the frame allowing only one run and stranding two Lancers on the basepaths.
Briar Cliff fought right back in the top of the third. After Trey Rogers reached first on a fielder's choice, Cam Riemer ripped a single to left field, advancing Rogers to third. Connor Lange then recorded an RBI sacrifice flyout to right field, which was followed by a crucial Lancer error to score another BC run. After three full innings, the Chargers held a two-run advantage 3-1.
BC's offense stayed hot in the fourth frame, carding two hits and three runs. Jared Sitzmann opened the half with a walk and was followed by a bunt single from Devon Farrell. Cyler Melvin reach first on a fielder's choice, and Sitzmann came around to score on a wild throw. Rogers reached on a Lancer mistake, leaving runners at first and third with Riemer due up. Riemer lined a two-RBI double to right field, extending to the Charger lead to 6-1.
Mount Marty responded with four runs on three hits in the bottom of the fourth. After an opening walk and hit by pitch, the Lancers found a timely RBI single to cut the deficit to four. Kiko Nunez found the first big fly of the day, knocking a three-run homerun over the right field wall. Heading into the fifth, the score was 6-5 in favor of the Cliff.
After a scoreless fifth inning, the Chargers plated one run in the sixth. Jake Chronic and Farrell recorded hits in the frame as the Cliff showed their aggressive base running on routine defensive plays, earning a two-run lead.
The Lancers kept battling back, however, as they carded two more runs on two hits in the bottom of the sixth. Kiko Nunez roped another two-run homer, this time to center to field, evening the score at 7-7 heading into the final frame.
Riemer was seeing the ball well all game and the top of the seventh was no different. Riemer lined a double to left field and later came around to score on an Evers single. Heading into the final half of the contest, the Chargers led 8-7.
Once again, Mount Marty found the timely hit as Bodi Wallar sent a solo homerun to right field, knotting up the score at 8-8. The game was headed into extra-innings.
After four scoreless innings of extra play, the Chargers tallied one run in the top of the 12th inning. Riemer led off the frame reaching first on an error, stealing second, and advancing to third on a passed ball. He was followed by an Evers walk and RBI sacrifice flyout by Allen. The Chargers managed to load to bases in the inning but were only able to push one run across to make the score 9-8.
Per usual, the Lancers answered with a run of their own. In the 12th, Mount Marty carded three hits, but Austin Carter buckled down to get back-to-back routine outs to end the frame.
The Cliff was held scoreless in the top of the 13th and the Lancer bats were still rolling. After a leadoff groundout, Mount Marty strung together a pair of singles to put a runner in scoring position. With two outs in the bottom of the 13th, William Johnson roped an RBI single to center field to end the game 10-9.
In the contest, the Chargers scored nine runs on nine hits. Riemer led the way with three hits and Chronic and Farrell had a pair each. Evers and Allen had one hit apiece.
Brett Sitzmann, the starting pitcher for BC, went 5.1 innings, allowing seven runs on nine hits, while striking out 10. Austin Carter went 6.2 innings in relief, allowing only two runs on eight hits, while striking out 5. Carter Schorg appeared in the last frame, allowing three hits and one run.
As a team, the Cliff held the advantage in walks (6-2) and strikeouts (9-15).
The Chargers are scheduled to complete the final four innings of game two against the Mount Marty Monday morning at 11 a.m. at Bishop Mueller Field. Briar Cliff will also play the scheduled doubleheader against the Lancers at 1 and 3 p.m.
#BattleOn
