Late Game Heroics Backs Strong Pitching in GPAC Sweep for Baseball

Doane Baseball played their final home games of the regular season on Thursday afternoon as the Tigers played host to Briar Cliff. The game moved at a quick pace, taking only 85 minutes, with Doane winning 3-2. The Tigers rallied in game two and posted a 6-3 victory to complete the sweep.

The first two runs of the game for both teams were unearned. Doane plated two runs in the second inning. With runners at first and second base, Narumi Okayasu hit a ground ball that the Charger third baseman had to move towards second base to grab. The throw over was high and Okayasu avoided the tag attempt. Justin Nevells was at second base with the play started and sprinted to home plate and beat the relay throw. Luke LaChance then tried to advance to third base and the throw down was sent into left field, allowing LaChance to score for a 2-0 lead.

The Chargers answered with two runs in the third inning. An error and a sacrifice bunt put a runner at third base with one out. The next Briar Cliff hitter singled to plate a run and the ball rolled under the glove of the Tiger outfielder, allowing the hitter to round the bases to tie the game.

The game remained tied until the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out and having fallen behind in the count, 0 balls and 2 strikes, Nate Mensik fouled off several pitches and worked the count full, 3-2. On the payoff pitch, he lifted a fly ball over the left field walk for a go-ahead home run.

Aaron Forrest started on the mound for the Tigers and was on fire early on. He struck out three batters in the first inning, his second one giving him 200 career strikeouts at Doane and making him just the fourth pitcher to achieve the mark. He finished with a complete game in earning his GPAC-leading eighth win of the season. Over 7.0 innings, he allowed two unearned runs on two hits and two walks while striking out seven.

Doane was also limited on the offensive end, finishing with five hits in the game. Five different players had the hits, with Nevells and LaChance picking up singles in the second inning for the Tigers only multi-hit frame.

In game two, Doane jumped out with two runs in the first inning. Logan Amick singled, moved to second on a failed pickoff, and scored on a Joe Osborn RBI-single. Osborn would later score on a wild pitch.

Briar Cliff scored twice in the fourth inning to tie the game behind a sacrifice fly and a fielder's choice in which Doane was unable to turn a double play by half a step. In the fifth inning, the Chargers took the lead as they had the bases loaded and once again avoided a potential inning-ending double play by beating the throw to first to allow a run to score.

The Tigers opened the bottom of the fifth inning with a pinch-hit single by Cristian Yanez. Tanner Black would take over as a courtesy runner and moved up a base on a single by Amick. With one out, Lukas White delivered a two-run double. Parker Lakin came in as a pinch runner and would score on a safety squeeze bunt by Nevells. Doane's final run came as Mensik stole third and advanced home on a throwing error.

Julian Vargas started for Doane and took a no-decision as he went 4.1 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and three walks while striking out six. Jake Johnson came out of the bullpen and went 2.2 innings to pick up the win and improve to 4-0. He did not allow a hit and struck out three of the eight batters he faced.

Doane finished the game with eight hits, two from Amick as he also scored two runs. White led the team with two RBI and had the only extra base hit in the game for the Tigers.

Next up will be the final two games of the regular season as Doane travels to Fremont on Friday, April 28, to take on Midland. First pitch is scheduled for 3 PM at Moller Field.