The Muskingum baseball team split a pair of games versus OAC-foe John Carroll to open conference play. The Muskies dropped game one 7-5 and won game two 12-8.

Game One

The Basics

• Records: Muskingum (9-6 Overall, 0-1 OAC), John Carroll (7-9 Overall, 1-0 OAC)
• Location: Mose Moorehead Field – New Concord, Ohio
• Attendance: 178

The Difference

• After both teams failed to plate a run through the first three innings of play, John Carroll found the scoreboard off an RBI double from Bennett Cavaretta.
• The Muskies would answer in the sixth inning with a two-run home run from junior Allex Santacroce, and then again with a hit by pitch RBI with the bases loaded from sophomore Wyatt Reeder.
• John Carroll tied the game at three apiece in the seventh inning with a two RBI single from Ben Surman.
• Sophomore Gavin Hawk recaptured the Muskie lead in the eighth inning with a two-run homer to give Muskingum a 5-3 advantage.
• However, John Carroll would plated four runs in the top of the ninth inning take a 7-5 lead. The Muskies were unable to score in the bottom of the ninth, and John Carroll hung on for the game one win.

Inside the Numbers

• Senior Jake Norris pitched a dominate seven innings, striking out 12 batters and giving up no earned runs.
• Sophomore Gavin Hawk drilled a pinch hit two-run homer to finish the contest 1-1 from the plate with two RBI's.
• Junior Allex Santacroce went 1-5 with a two-run home run and a walk, while sophomore Quinten Collins went 1-3 a walk and a run scored.
• Junior Devin Ryan finished 1-5 with a run scored.
• The Blue Streaks were led by Henry Haracz who went 3-4 with two runs scored.

Game Two

The Basics

• Records: Muskingum (10-6 Overall, 1-1 OAC), John Carroll (7-10 Overall, 1-1 OAC)
• Location: Mose Moorehead Field – New Concord, Ohio
• Attendance: 156

Notables

• Junior Devin Ryan became the first Muskie baseball player to have two home runs in a single game since 2017.

The Difference

• Junior Devin Ryan got the Muskies on the scoreboard with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first inning.
• John Carroll would answer in the top of the second inning with two runs of their own to take a 2-1 lead.
• Junior Allex Santacroce recaptured the lead for Muskingum with a two-run homer to left center field. Sanatcroce's home run gave Muskingum a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the third inning.
• John Carroll tied things again at three with in the fourth inning, but Muskingum would erupt for four runs in the fourth inning to take a 7-3 lead. Muskingum's big fourth inning was highlighted by a three-run blast from Devin Ryan for his second home run of the game.
• Muskingum got on the scoreboard again in the sixth inning with an RBI single from Devin Ryan to push the Muskie lead up to 8-3.
• John Carroll answered in the eighth inning with four runs of their own to trim the lead down to 8-7.
• However, senior Trey Yoder doubled to right center to score two runs, and senior Chayce Lundell singled to score another run and push the Muskie lead back up to 12-7.
• John Carroll scored another run in the ninth inning, but sophomore Clark Jennings slammed the door from the mound to earn the save and secure the 12-8 Muskie win.

Inside the Numbers

• In game two, the Muskies were led by sophomore Jaxon Rinkes who pitched seven innings and struck out six batters. Rinkes gave up four earned runs en route to his first win of the season.
• Junior Devin Ryan went a perfect 4-4 from the plated with two home runs, five RBI's, four runs scored, and a walk.
• Senior Trey Yoder finished 1-5 with two RBI's and a run scored; while junior Allex Santacroce went 1-2 with three walks, two RBI's, a home run, and a run scored.
• Senior Chayce Lundell finished 1-5 with two RBI's, while freshman Austin Lippolis went 1-3 with an RBI and run scored.
• Sophomore Clark Jennings earned his first save of the year after pitching one and one-third innings and giving up one earned run.

Up Next

• The Muskies will be back in action on Wednesday, March 30, when they travel to take on Kenyon. First pitch is slated for 4:00 p.m.