Pagano powers Muskingum to twinbill split

 Junior Michael Pagano belted a two-run home run to right field to propel the Muskingum baseball team to a 7-6 win against Bethany in game two. The Bison won the opener, 7-5.

The Basics 

• Records: Muskingum (9-8 overall), Bethany (3-9 overall)
• Location: New Concord, Ohio - Mose Morehead Field 

Game Two Highlights

Trailing 6-5 in the bottom of the sixth with one out, junior Ben Van Wey walked and Pagano blasted a two-run home run to right field to give the Muskies the 7-6 lead. The long ball was Pagano's second of the season and capped off a 3-of-4 outing with four RBIs and two runs scored. He had a pair of RBI doubles earlier in the game. Senior Eddie Harper had an RBI single and sophomore Holden Martin notched an RBI after being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Senior Kyle Schmitgen tossed two relief innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits to earn his first win of the season. Senior Levi Boyer registered the save after closing out the final inning.

Inside The Numbers

• Muskingum scored seven runs on 10 hits and committed five errors.
• Van Wey went 2-for-3 with three runs scored.
• Senior Brad Donathan went 2-for-3 and freshman Luke Currie went 1-for-3 with a run scored.
• Sophomore Bryce Husted started the game and went four innings and allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits.
• Matt Colton took the loss for Bethany after throwing one inning of relief and allowing two runs on two hits.
• Neil Woods led the Bison with two RBIs, while Matt Cavanaugh and Tyler Frazee each added one RBI.
• Bethany ended the game with six runs on seven hits with two errors.

Game One Highlights

Bethany plated a run in the first inning and took advantage of a passed ball in the second inning to tack on four more runs to take an early 5-0 lead. The Bison added another run in the fifth inning on a passed ball and scored its final run in the sixth on Neil Woods' RBI single. The Muskies tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh by scoring five runs on six hits. The surge was highlighted by Donathan's two-run home run to left field. The blast was his second of the year. Pagano and freshman Matt Stewart each added an RBI single. The Muskie comeback ended with the tying runs on base.

Inside The Numbers

• Muskingum scored five runs on nine hits.
• Sophomore Josh Bigrigg went all seven innings and allowed seven runs (one earned) on eight hits with three strikeouts. He now stands at 2-2 overall.
• Donathan went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, a double and one run scored.
• Martin went 2-for-3 with a run scored and Stewart went 1-for-3 with one RBI and one run.
• Bethany scored seven runs on eight hits and committed two errors.
• Nick Gross earned the win after going 6.1 innings and allowing three runs on six hits.
• Neil Woods secured the save after getting the final two outs. He also went 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs.
• Frazee added two RBIs and Kevin Marthinson went 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run.

Up Next

• Muskingum next plays at Kenyon on Tuesday, March 27. Game time is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.