The Briar Cliff baseball team was topped in a pair of games against Doane on Thursday afternoon in Crete, Nebraska.

"We really did a good job limiting them offensively", said head coach Corby McGlauflin. "We just weren't able to make enough plays late in the games to get a win today."

The Chargers now carry a 22-22 overall record and 9-17 GPAC record.

Game 1 – L, 2-3
With a scoreless opening frame in the books, the Tigers appeared in the scoring column first in game one, tallying two runs on two hits in the bottom of the second. After back-to-back singles to lead off the inning, Doane struck first on a costly Charger error that pushed two runs across. With two innings completed, the Tigers held an early 2-0 advantage.

The Cliff's offense came out firing to respond in the top of the third. Easton Cone led off the frame with a single, was advanced to second on a wild throw, and found himself at third on a sacrifice bunt from Devon Farrell. Two-way standout, Matthew Hmielewski then tallied an RBI single and rounded the bases on an error to equalize the score at 2-2 heading into the bottom of the third.

Both defenses stood their ground in the fourth and fifth frames, carding three-straight three-up three-down halves. Doane recorded a bunt single in the bottom of the fifth, but the Charger defense buckled down and escaped the threat.

Cyler Melvin got on base via walk in the top of the sixth, but the Chargers couldn't get anything else rolling.

In the bottom on the sixth, Doane found the biggest swing of the day. With one out, Nate Mensik launched a solo home run to left field to grant the Tigers the late 3-2 lead.

The scoring would end there as the pitching staff of Doane continued their trend of not allowing baserunners in the top of the seventh. Briar Cliff suffered their fourth consecutive GPAC loss 3-2 in a classic pitcher's duel.

As a team, the Blue and Gold tallied two hits. Cone and Hmielewski were the only Chargers to card hits. Hmielewski also tallied the Chargers' lone RBI and Melvin drew the Chargers' two walks in game one.

On the hill, Ryan Riddle was efficient, allowing five hits and striking out three through six full innings of work.

Game Two – L, 3-6
Doane jumped on the scoreboard early in game two, pushing two runs across in the first inning. In the frame, the Tigers tallied two runs on two hits, with the assistance of a Charger mistake.

Doane put a runner in scoring position with no outs, as he was driven in on an RBI single to right field. The Tigers then loaded the bases with a drawn walk, but Carter Schorg and his eight defenders called damage control to allow only more run. At the end of the first, the Chargers found themselves in an early 0-2 deficit.

Schorg found his rhythm in the bottom of the third, carding two strikeouts in the frame to keep the score at 0-2.

The Blue and Gold gained momentum from Schorg's performance, pushing two runs across in the top of the fourth. Jake Allen led off the frame with a walk and was followed by back-to-back singles from Quentin Evers and Sitzmann to load the bases. Cone then recorded an RBI sacrifice flyout to cut the deficit to 1-2 as pinch hitter Matthew Delgado tallied the equalizing RBI on a fielder's choice to knot up the score at 2-2.

In the top of the fifth, Trey Rogers led off with a single and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Melvin and single from Allen. Evers, the team leader in walks, drew another one to load the bases with only one out as Sitzmann earned an RBI on a fielder's choice to give the Chargers their first lead of the day 3-2.

Doane retaliated in the top bottom half of the fifth as they erupted for four runs on four hits and a crucial Charger error. The Tigers tallied back-to-back singles to open the frame. Both baserunners would cross the plate on a two-RBI double down the left-field line to give the lead back to Doane. The Tigers weren't done yet as they carded one more hit and RBI, while the Chargers committed an error. With two innings remaining, the Tigers surged back into the 6-3 lead.

The Charger offense was kept off the basepaths in the final two innings, ending the score at 3-6 in favor of Doane.

In game two, BC recorded three runs on five hits. Five different Chargers tallied one hit each as Sitzmann, Cone and Delgado all snagged one RBI.

Schorg went 4.0 innings on the bump for the Chargers, where he allowed four runs on five hits and struck out four. Brock Saya saw an inning of work, allowing two runs on two hits, while striking out one. Nelson Cone threw the rest of the way, allowing only one hit and carding a strikeout

The Chargers conclude their regular-season slate on Saturday afternoon when they travel to Fremont, Nebraska to take on Midland in a doubleheader. The first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.

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