The Charger baseball team split their season opener with the Ravens of Benedictine 2-1 and 3-2 Saturday in Atchison, Kansas.
 
Game 1 – W, 2-1, Extra Innings (8)
 
The Chargers got on the board early, as leadoff hitter Rance Bryant got on base with a leadoff single. Diego Trujillo put the ball in play to advance Bryant to second on a fielder's choice. Walker Moore drew a walk, followed by a single from Cam Riemer loaded the bases for the Cliff. Cade Marquardt hit a come-backer straight to the pitcher, allowing Bryant to cross home plate to take the 1-0 lead.
 
The Ravens evened the score in the bottom of the second, as the lead-off hitter swiped second base followed by a double from Ashton Neuman to drive in Jack Harpole.
 
The contest went to extra innings, with the Cliff looking to take the lead in the top of the eighth. With two outs, Reimer drew a walk followed by a single from Marquardt to put runners on first and second. Jared Sitzmann during his plate appearance singled to left field, driving in Reimer to give BCU a 2-1 lead. Matthew Hmielewski worked his way out of a jam in the bottom of the eighth, to earn his first victory of the season.
 
Kyler Steinborn tossed five innings while recording two strike outs and three hits. Hmielewski threw three innings and recorded four strike outs.
 
Reimer got on base in each of his plate appearances, going three-for-three and drawing one walk. Marquardt and Sitzmann both went one-for-four with one RBI in the contest.
 
Game 2 – L, 3-2
 
The Chargers again struck first, scoring a run in the top of the second. Marquardt led off the inning with a triple. Damon Schmid came into pinch run, and Sitzmann hit a RBI sac-fly to drive in the first run of the contest.
 
The Ravens in the bottom of the second scored two runs to take a 2-1 lead.
 
In the top of the sixth, the Chargers used two-out lighting to tie the contest. Walker Moore lined a double to left field, and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Moore was able to cross home plate to even the score 2-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth. Benedictine in the bottom of the sixth scored on a RBI single from Ashton Neuman to take a 3-2 lead.
 
Carter Schorg got the start on the bump for the Cliff, tossing five innings and recording five strikeouts while giving up one earned run.
 
Moore went one-for-three at the plate with one run scored.
 
The Chargers will return to action Sunday, as the play one game against Benedictine to wrap up the series. First pitch is slated for 11 a.m.  
 
  Read Full Article