Baseball Splits in KC Trip

Baseball headed to Kansas City, Kansas, for a pair of games on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers opened the day with a 6-1 win over Saint Ambrose (Iowa) but dropped their final game of the day to No. 10 Missouri Baptist, 14-5. Doane sits at 14-2 on the season.

Game One
Doane pitching held Saint Ambrose to one hit in the game. Aaron Forrest threw 6.0 innings, allowing one hit and three walks while striking out eight batters. Kyler Beekman threw 1.0 scoreless inning, striking out two batters.

The Tigers were held to seven hits from seven different players. However, three of the hits left the yard for home runs. 

The lone hit from the Bees came in the top of the first inning on a two-out home run for an early lead. Doane tied the game in the bottom of the inning as they scored on an RBI-groundout by Brayden Jones. The Tigers took the lead in the third inning as Joe Osborn stole second base and scored on a throwing error. Dane Kelsey followed with a home run for a 3-1 lead.

Nate Mensik led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a solo home run while Luke LaChance added a two-run home run in the fifth inning to cap the scoring.

Game Two
Missouri Baptist scored eight runs in the final inning to pull away for the win in the final game of the day.

The Spartans struck with two runs in the first inning and three in the top of the second to take a 5-1 lead. Doane came back with two runs in the bottom of the second on RBI hits from Logan Amick and Narumi Okayasu. In the fourth inning, the Tigers tied the game at 5-all on a sacrifice fly by Okayasu and an RBI-double by Jones.

Missouri Baptist led off the sixth inning with a solo home run and then added two home runs as part of their eight-run seventh inning.

Jones led the Tigers with two of the team's nine hits. Eight players had a hit in the game for Doane. 

Kaden Crawford started on the mound for the Tigers, allowing five runs on five hits and a walk while striking out one in 2.0 innings of work. Ethan Merk (0-1) threw 4.0 innings, allowing one run on three hits and two walks with two strikeouts. Haldon Craig was charged with three runs on one hit and two walks in 0.1 inning. Zach Schuchardt threw 0.1 inning, allowing four runs on two hits and two walks. Raidyn Steele allowed one run in 0.1 inning on one hit.

Doane will now prepare for their scheduled home opener on Tuesday, March 12. The Tigers are set to take on York in a doubleheader beginning at 1 PM.