Baseball Goes Unbeaten on Opening Weekend

Baseball closed out their first weekend of play on the season with a 4-1 win over Culver-Stockton (Mo.) on Saturday afternoon. The win ties the school record for best start to a season at 4-0. It also marks the first time that Doane has won their first four games when opening play in January or February as their previous 4-0 start included four wins during the fall of the 2016-17 season. In 1972, the Tigers season began in late March and the team opened that year at 6-0.

Doane's first hit of the game came in the third inning as Luke LaChance opened the frame with a triple. He scored the first run on an RBI-groundout by Brayden Jones. Culver-Stockton tied the game in the bottom of the inning with a two-out single.

In the fifth inning, LaChance led off with a single and moved up as Jones drew a walk. Following a sacrifice bunt, Logan Amick delivered a sacrifice fly to plate LaChance. Joe Osborn followed with an RBI-single to drive in pinch runner Max Harris for a 3-1 lead. 

Cristian Yanez opened the sixth inning by drawing a pinch hit walk. He moved to second base on a wild pitch and to third on a ground out. Following a walk, LaChance singled to bring in Yanez for the final run of the game.

Broc Songster made his collegiate debut for the Tigers and earned the win (1-0), going 4.0 innings and allowing one run on six hits and a walk while striking out four batters. Haldon Craig pitched in relief for Doane, throwing the final 3.0 innings and allowing one hit and one walk while striking out three to pick up his first collegiate save.

The Wildcats out-hit Doane for the second straight day but it was a timely six hits for the Tigers in the final game of the weekend. LaChance was 3-for-3 with two runs scored and one driven in. 

Next up for the Tigers will be a trip to Oklahoma City on February 16-17. Doane will take on No. 13 MidAmerica Nazarene in their first game on Friday followed by a match-up with (RV) Oklahoma City. The Tigers will face OCU again on the 17th.