Baseball Wins Game One in Wild Walk-off

Doane Baseball took on Mount Marty on Sunday afternoon in Crete in a GPAC doubleheader. The Tigers won a wild first game, 8-7, with the Lancers taking game two in a slugfest, 20-13.

In the opener, Doane jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two innings. The wind was blowing out to centerfield at 30-40 mph throughout the day and the Tigers took advantage of it for their first run as Nate Mensik hit a triple over the defense to plate the first run. Justin Nevells followed with an RBI-single. In the second inning, Logan Amick hit a sacrifice fly to plate the Tigers' third run.

Mount Marty scored their first run of the game on a solo home run in the fifth inning.

The seventh inning was a wild one as the Lancers tied the game on a two-run double. Controversy ensued when a batter was determined to be hit by a pitch on a check swing. With the bases loaded, Mount Marty received a grand slam home run to take a 7-3 lead.

In the bottom of the inning, Joe Osborn hit a two-run home run to pull the Tigers within two runs. Controversy again came into play on a ball that was ruled to have dropped to the ground in the outfield. The Tigers would add two more base runners to load the bases with one out. Luke LaChance followed with a double down the right field line to plate all three runners to give Doane the walk-off victory.

Aaron Forrest started for Doane and took a no-decision as he allowed four runs on five hits and two walks with six strikeouts over 6.0-plus innings of work. Kyler Beekman received the win, throwing 1.0 inning and allowing three runs on three hits with three strikeouts.

Doane finished the game with 10 hits. Osborn was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two driven in. Mensik was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI. Nevells was 2-for-3 with a run scored and one RBI. LaChance led the way with three RBI.

In game two, Mount Marty scored runs in seven of the nine innings played while Doane scored in five of the innings. Nine of Doane's runs came in the final four innings of play.

For the game, the Tigers out-hit the Lancers, 21-16. Doane had two extra base hits in the game, doubles from Osborne and LaChance. Mount Marty had eight extra base hits, five coming from home runs.

Doane had four players with three hits in the game. Amick finished 3-for-6 with two runs and two RBI. Lukas White was 3-for-5 with a run scored and two driven in. Mensik was 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBI. LaChance was 3-for-6 with a run and a RBI. Brett Meyer led the team with three runs scored.

The Tigers used five pitchers in the game with Haldon Craig starting, going 2.0 innings and allowing five runs on four hits and two walks with two strikeouts. He received the decision for the game.

Next up for the Tigers will be a doubleheader with GPAC-leading Concordia on Monday, April 17, at 1 PM in Crete.