York Spoils Baseball's Home Opener

Baseball played their first home games of the season on Tuesday afternoon against York. The outcome was not what the Tigers were hoping for as they dropped both games, 9-5 and 5-2. The losses left Doane with a 14-4 overall record.

In game one, Doane scored twice in the first inning for the early lead. Nate Mensik hit a sacrifice fly to plate a run and Luke LaChance added a two-out RBI-single. York cut the lead in half with an RBI-single in the third and took the lead on an error later in the inning. Doane came back and tied the game in the bottom of the third inning with an RBI-single from Aaron Vulcano.

An error in the fourth gave the Panthers the lead back and York added an unearned run in the fifth. A three-run home run in the sixth gave the Panthers a 9-3 lead. Doane came back with two runs in the bottom of the sixth as an error allowed one run to score and the second run scored on a sacrifice fly by LaChance.

For the game, Doane had nine hits, three from Justin Nevells and two apiece from Narumi Okayasu and LaChance. Mensik and LaChance had two RBI apiece while Okayasu and Joe Osborn scored two runs apiece.

Kellan Voggesser started for Doane and threw 3.0 innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks with two strikeouts. Raidyn Steele threw 2.1 innings, allowing six runs (four earned) on five hits and two walks with one strikeout. Isaiah Miller threw 1.2 innings, allowing one hit and striking out two.

In the second game, York struck first with two runs in the second inning. A hit batter and a walk came in to score on a two-out single for a 2-0 lead. 

Doane tied the game in the fourth inning with two runs. LaChance doubled to bring in the first run and a throwing error allowed the second run to score. York regained the lead in the fifth inning following back-to-back two-out singles to plate a run. An error allowed two more runs to score in the inning. Doane was able to get the tying run to the plate in the seventh inning but could not push any runs across.

The Tigers were limited to a pair of hits in the game, one from Logan Amick and one from LaChance as the Panthers used five pitchers in the game.

Broc Songster started for Doane and threw 4.2 innings, allowing five runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out four. Kyler Beekman threw 2.1 innings, striking out two batters.

Next up for the Tigers will be the conference opener as Doane draws preseason conference favorite Concordia to open play. The Tigers and Bulldogs will meet up on Saturday, March 16, for a 1 PM first pitch.