Forrest Ties Career Wins Record as Baseball Sweeps Dordt

Baseball hosted Dordt on Saturday morning in a cool and breezy doubleheader. Winds blew in from center field at a consistent rate of 30 miles per hour (mph) with gusts around 50 mph. The first game saw the pitchers benefit as Doane won, 1-0, and then the bats adjusted to the elements as the Tigers took game two, 12-6.

Aaron Forrest was working on short rest for the second time this week and put together a gem. He threw a complete game, three-hitter, as he improved to 7-0 on the year and collected his 24th win to tie the Doane career record. He struck out nine batters in the game.

The only run of the game came in the bottom of the first inning. Noah Winkelman walked with two outs and Nate Mensik followed with a double through the wind to plate Winkelman from first base.

Doane was limited to two hits, Mensik's double and a Narumi Okayasu single in the third inning.

In game two, the Tigers never trailed after striking with two runs in the second inning. Okayasu singled with two outs to plate two runs. Dordt picked up a run in the top of the fourth to cut the Doane lead in half. The Tigers responded with four runs in the bottom of the inning. Okayasu tripled to plate two runs for a 4-1 lead and then he scored on a single by Winkelman. An error would allow Winkelman to score for a 6-1 lead.

Osborn added an RBI-single in the fifth inning to put the Tigers up six runs. Dordt answered in the sixth inning with five runs to pull within a run, 7-6. Four of the Defenders' runs were unearned in the inning.

Doane was able to get a run back in the bottom of the sixth on a double by Justin Nevells. In the seventh inning, Mensik delivered a two-run single to give the Tigers a 10-6 lead. A wild pitch allowed Winkelman to score later in the inning and the final Doane run crossed the plate as Nevells singled to plate Mensik.

The Tiger offense had 16 hits in the second game. Okayasu was 3-for-5 with two runs scored and four driven in. Nevells was 3-for-5 with two RBI. Winkelman and Mensik were joined by Dane Kelsey and Aaron Vulcano with two hits and two runs scored apiece.

Kaden Crawford started for the Tigers and earned the win with 5.1 innings pitched. He allowed five runs (two earned) on six hits and a walk while striking out two. Jake King allowed one unearned run on one hit in 0.2 inning. Isaiah Miller threw the final 3.0 innings to collect his first save, scattering two hits while striking out three.

Doane will hit the road on Friday, April 12, when they travel to Sioux City, Iowa, to take on Briar Cliff. First pitch is set for 1 PM.