Fourth Inning Bursts Lift Baseball to GPAC Sweep

Doane Baseball opened GPAC play on Monday after games were pushed back two days. The wait did not derail the Tigers as they posted a pair of wins over Dakota Wesleyan, 7-2 and 7-1. Doane improved to 16-4 overall and 2-0 in conference play.

In game one, DWU scored the first run of the game with a two-out single in the opening inning. Dakota Wesleyan had three hits in the inning, half of their final total (six).

It wasn't until the fourth inning that Doane was able to break through. With two runners on base, Jack Tillman laid down a sacrifice bunt and the ball was thrown away which led to both runners scoring. The flood gates opened as the Tigers plated six runs in the inning.

Nate Mensik added a two-run triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by Luke LaChance. James Griess then tripled and scored on a single by Brett Meyer. In the fifth inning, Mensik doubled to plate the final Doane run. A solo home run for Dakota Wesleyan accounted for their final run.

Aaron Forrest picked up the win as he went 4.0 innings, allowing one run on three hits and a walk with five strikeouts. Raidyn Steele threw 2.0 innings, allowing one run on three hits with two strikeouts. Jake King threw the final inning, striking out one.

Doane finished with seven hits on offense, two apiece from Lukas White and Mensik. Logan Amick scored two runs as the team's courtesy runner while Mensik had a team-high three RBI. 

Game two started the same as the opener with DWU scoring a run in the first inning. They received a one-out RBI-single to take the early lead. Doane came back with a run in the bottom of the first on an RBI-double by White.

Once again, the fourth inning was big for the Tigers as they scored six runs once again. LaChance put Doane in front with an RBI-single. Meyer followed with a sacrifice bunt to plate another run. Joe Osborn then delivered an RBI-single for a 4-1 lead. Three consecutive walks would bring in the next Doane run and Tillman capped the inning for the Tigers with a two-run single.

Despite giving up a run in the opening inning, Julian Vargas was fairly dominant throughout the game. His first eight outs were recorded with strikeouts as he finished with 11 in the game over 5.0 innings of work. He scattered six hits and did not walk a batter. Jake Johnson threw the final 2.0 innings, allowing one hit and striking out one.

Doane posted 11 hits and drew five walks in the game. Osborn was 3-for-4 with two doubles, a run scored, and one driven in. Ben Grigsby was 2-for-4 in the game with a double. Doane finished with four doubles in the contest. Tillman led the team with two runs batted in and seven different players scored a run.

The Tigers will return to action on Tuesday when they host Dakota Wesleyan in the final two games of the opening series. First pitch is set for 12 PM.