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04.08.09
- A two-game sweep with scores of 17-11 and 5-4 over Taylor
University catapulted the Foresters into first place in the MCC
standings with an 11-3 record in conference play. HU is 18-11
overall on the season.
With the two starting pitchers in
game one having a combined 12-1 record on the year, you would expect
a low-scoring defensive battle, but instead a firework display
erupted. The two teams combined for 31 hits and 28 runs in the
contest.
Both teams scored a run in the
first and the Foresters chased Taylor starter Zach Vander Laan from
the game with four runs in the top of the second. Chris Menzie
drove in two on a single to right center and Eric Harpring delivered
a two-run homerun to give HU the 5-1 lead.
In the bottom half of the frame,
Taylor exploded for nine runs on eight hits to take a sizable 10-5
lead. After a quiet third inning, the Foresters made a lot of
noise at the plate in the top of the fourth banging out three
singles, three doubles and a homerun in the inning for six runs and
an 11-10 lead.
HU starter Drew Taylor retired the
Trojans on a flyout and two strikeouts in the bottom of the fourth
and the Foresters stayed hot at the plate in the fifth. They
gained some breathing room by combining two walks with four hits for
four more runs to make it 15-10. Taylor got one back in the bottom
of the inning, but HU added a pair in the sixth to secure the win.
Taylor went the distance to earn
his eighth win of the season. He allowed 11 runs on 14 hits
and two walks while striking out eight. Edwin Rodriguez and Menzie
both had three hits in the game for the Foresters and Andrew
Drummond led the team with five RBI.
In the nightcap, the Trojans
out-hit HU 11-9, but the Foresters came away with the 5-4 victory.
Taylor plated one in its first at-bat, but HU came back with a pair
of runs in the second and third to go up 4-1.
The Foresters got their eventual
game-winning run in the top of the sixth when Harpring scored on a
fielders' choice by Ryan Shell to make it 5-1. The Trojans
made things interesting in their half of the sixth. They
scored three runs on four hits and had the tying run on third when
Eric Schultz, who came on in relief of HU starter Mitch Bowers, got
Michael Nassar to pop up to first for the final out. Travis Frantz
took over for Schultz in the bottom of the seventh and got out of a
one-out bases-loaded jam to preserve the win and pick up a save.
Bowers was credited with the win
for HU. He gave up four runs on nine hits and a walk while
striking out three. Harpring was the lone Forester to have two
hits in the contest. |
