Baseball Adds to Win Total with Two Victories

The Tigers played a pair of games on Saturday in St. Louis, Missouri, as they faced off against NAIA No. 10 Missouri Baptist and Clarke (Iowa). In the first game of the day for Doane, the Tigers used strong pitching and an explosive sixth inning to top the ranked Spartans, 9-2. Doane closed out the day with a 16-3 win over the Pride.

Game One
Kaden Crawford came out hot for the Tigers on the pitcher's mound. The Tiger sophomore struck out four batters in the first two innings.

His teammates then gave him the lead in the top of the third inning with two runs. Brayden Jones smacked a two-run home run for a 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the inning, the Tiger defense turned a double play behind Crawford in another quick inning for the pitcher.

In the sixth inning, Doane pushed seven runs across the plate for a 9-0 lead. Dane Kelsey drove in two runs with a single, Logan Amick plated one with a single, and Narumi Okayasu added an RBI-single. Joe Osborn capped the inning with a three-run home run.

Crawford continued to hold the Spartans in check and would go into the final inning with a shutout and no-hitter intact. Missouri Baptist broke up the no-hitter with the first batter of the inning reaching on a single. An error and a hit batter loaded the bases for the Spartans. Their first run scored on a sacrifice fly but the Tigers would double off one of the base runners on the play. The Spartans added an RBI-single before Crawford closed out the game for the win.

Over 7.0 innings of work, Crawford (2-1) allowed two runs on two hits and two walks while striking out eight batters.

The Tigers had 12 hits in the game, two apiece from Jones, Luke LaChance, and Aaron Vulcano. Osborn led the way with three RBI and Jones added two. Okayasu led the Tigers with two runs scored.

Game Two
Clarke was the guest on the scoreboard and plated a run in the first inning to take the early lead. Doane came right back with three runs in the bottom of the inning and would go on to score multiple runs in five of the six innings they stepped to the plate.

Osborn, Kelsey, and LaChance recorded RBIs in the first inning for the Tigers. The Pride scored a run in the top of the second, cutting the Doane lead to 3-2. The Tigers added three runs in the bottom of the second on a three-run home run by Okayasu for a 6-2 lead.

After a scoreless third inning, Doane added three runs in the fourth inning. Jones drove in two runs with a single and Kelsey added an RBI-single. Dionysius Chialtas picked up an RBI-single in the fifth with Okayasu adding a sacrifice fly.

Clarke scored a run in the sixth inning with Doane adding five in the bottom of the frame. LaChance picked up an RBI-single and Okayasu drew a bases loaded walk. Kelan Polard followed with a pinch hit appearance and walked as well to bring in a run. Cristian Yanez pinch hit and was hit by a pitch for a run. Misael Cantu also pinch hit and drew a walk for the final run of the game.

Okayasu was 3-for-3 with four runs scored and five RBI. Osborn was 2-for-3 with two runs scored with Jones going 2-for-4 with two RBI. Chialtas was 2-for-4 with a RBI. Doane batters had 14 hits, seven walks, and were hit by three pitches.

Kyler Beekman started for the Tigers and earned the win (3-0) by going 5.0 innings. He allowed two runs on nine hits. Ethan Merk threw the final 2.0 innings, allowing one run on three hits with two strikeouts.

Doane will close out their weekend with a nine-inning contest against Clarke on Sunday, March 3, at 11 AM.