Muskies narrowly fall to Northwestern

The Muskingum University baseball team narrowly fell to Northwestern on Saturday afternoon, 12-11.

Freshman Jake Norris started on the mound for Muskingum and pitched 5.1 innings. Norris allowed seven runs on eight hits while striking out five batters. 

In the top of the first inning, freshman Brett Carson blasted a double to right-center, driving in sophomore Matt Stewart. The Muskies added two more runs in the top of the third. Senior Marc Ibarra singled down the left side, bringing in Stewart. Then, freshman Trey Yoder came in on a wild pitch to make it 3-0.

However, Northwestern heated up in the bottom of the fourth, putting up three runs and tying the game 3-3. In the top of the fifth, Ibarra brought in Stewart with a sacrifice fly to give the Muskies a 4-3 edge. Senior Michael Pagano stepped up to the plate and sent a rocket to right field, driving home Carson. Muskingum kept gaining momentum in the top of the sixth inning when Yoder doubled, allowing senior Ben Van Wey to cross the plate. Then, Carson singled to right field and brought Yoder home to give Muskingum an 8-3 advantage.

Northwestern took off in the bottom of the sixth, scoring five runs to take a 9-8 lead. The Eagles extended their edge to 12-8 with three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Muskies went on to put up three more runs, but Northwestern managed to hold on for a narrow victory. 

The Muskies next host Denison on Wednesday, March 13. Game time is slated for 4:00 p.m.

Baseball splits doubleheader with Dominican

March 8

The Muskingum University baseball team defeated Dominican in game one of its doubleheader on Friday, 5-4. In the second game, the Muskies fell to Dominican, 10-5.

In the first game, senior Evan Hinds pitched all seven innings for Muskingum. Hinds allowed four runs on seven hits and struck out five batters.

In the top of the first inning, freshman Brett Carson scored off a throwing error, giving Muskingum a quick 1-0 edge. In their next at-bat, junior Ashton Budzinski rocketed a ball over the center field fence, recording his first home run of the season. Then, freshman Sam Pinckert scored on a throwing error, boosting the Muskies' lead to 3-0. The Stars brought in a run in the top of the third, but Muskingum answered in the bottom of the fifth. Here, senior Michael Pagano singled to center field, driving in freshman Trey Yoder. Dominican rallied in the top of the seventh inning, scoring three runs to tie the game, 4-4. With the bases loaded, Pagano stepped up to the plate with one out and knocked the ball deep to left field, giving sophomore Matt Stewart ample time to sprint in for the game-winning run.

In the second game, junior Bryce Husted started on the mound for the Muskies. Husted gave up six runs on five hits and notched three strikeouts.

Dominican jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Then, Pagano smashed a single to left field, driving in senior Marc Ibarra in the top of the second. The Stars put up two runs in the bottom of the second, taking a 5-1 advantage. Muskingum answered in the top of the third when senior Ben Van Wey singled through the left side, bringing in Pinckert. Then, Carson singled to center field, driving in Van Wey to make it 5-3. The Stars went on to score five more runs, which put the Muskies down 10-3 going into the top of the seventh. Carson singled through the right side, bringing home Van Wey and Pinckert, but the Stars' defense halted Muskingum's comeback bid.

The Muskies next face Northwestern for their final contest in Fort Pierce, Florida on Saturday, March 9. Game time is slated for 9:30 a.m.

Muskies tripped up by Eastern Nazarene

Thursday, March 7

The Muskingum baseball team was tripped up by Eastern Nazarene on Thursday afternoon, 7-5.

Junior Holden Martin started on the mound for Muskingum. Martin pitched 4.2 innings, allowing seven runs on eights hits while striking out two batters. 

Eastern Nazarene jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. The Lions managed to tack on three more runs in the bottom of the third, making it 5-0. In the top of the fifth inning, senior Marc Ibarra smashed a ball over the left field fence, hitting his first home run of the season. Eastern Nazarene put up two runs in the bottom of the fifth, extending its lead to 7-1.

The Muskies rallied in the top of the seventh inning when freshman Brett Carson singled through the right side, driving home freshman Trey Yoder. Then, senior Michael Pagano brought in Ibarra on a sacrifice fly deep to right field. Carson crossed the plate for Muskingum when senior Nate Mejia hit a sacrifice fly to left field, bringing the score to 7-4. The Muskie defense held strong in the bottom of the eighth by recording three straight outs. In the top of the ninth, freshman Sam Pinckert singled to left field and drove in Carson, closing the deficit to two runs (7-5). Despite Muskingum's valiant efforts, the Lions' defense was able to escape the inning.

Muskingum next battles Dominican in a doubleheader on Friday, March 8. Game times are scheduled for 10:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Nixon's complete game gem leads Muskies past Houghton

Wednesday, March 6

The Muskingum baseball team shutout the Houghton Highlanders on Wednesday afternoon, 3-0.

Freshman Craig Nixon led the Muskies by pitching a complete game one-hitter. Nixon was masterful throughout all nine innings and ended the outing with two strikeouts to earn his first career win.

Muskingum was able to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when junior Ashton Budzinski singled through the left side, driving home freshman Trey Yoder. Nixon, backed by the explosive Muskie defense, held the Highlanders off until Muskingum extended their advantage in the bottom of the eighth inning. Sophomore Matt Stewart scored on a balk as senior Ben Van Wey advanced to second base. Then, senior Marc Ibarra singled down the left field line, bringing home Van Wey. Muskingum's defense held strong in the top of the ninth inning and propelled the Muskies to their second-straight victory in Fort Pierce.

The Muskies next face Eastern Nazarene on Thursday, March 7. Game time is scheduled for 10:00 a.m.

Baseball conquers the Colonels

Tuesday, March 5

The Muskingum baseball team conquered the Wilkes University Colonels on Tuesday morning, 7-3.

Freshman Jake Norris threw the first six innings for the Muskies. Norris allowed three runs on five hits and pitched three strikeouts en route to his first career win.

Wilkes took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The Muskies responded in the bottom of the third when sophomore Matt Stewart singled to right field, driving in a run. Then, senior Michael Pagano brought in a run with a sacrifice fly to left field. Following this, senior Ben Van Wey stole third and went on to cross the plate, granting the Muskies a 3-1 lead. Senior Marc Ibarra stepped up to the plate and singled to left field, bringing in another Muskie run. Muskingum tallied their final score of the inning when junior Ashton Budzinski crossed the plate on a Wilkes error, making it 5-1.

The Colonels managed to score a run in the top of the sixth, but it was not enough to subdue Muskingum's momentum. The Muskies scored two more runs as they secured the win against Wilkes.

Muskingum next competes against Houghton on Wednesday, March 6. Start time is slated for 1:30 p.m.

Baseball falls to Monmouth

Monday, March 4

The Muskingum baseball team fell to Monmouth on Monday, March 4, 19-10.

Junior Bryce Husted pitched the first four innings for Muskingum. Husted allowed eight runs on seven hits and tallied one strikeout. Monmouth took a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning, but the Muskies answered in the bottom of the third. Freshman Trey Yoder registered a triple, driving in junior Ashton Budzinski to make it 3-1. The Scots gained momentum in the top of the fifth when they brought in five runs, increasing their advantage to 8-1. Muskingum was able to drive home two runs in their next two at-bats, making the score 8-3. In the top of the seventh inning, Monmouth heated up by scoring 10 runs, granting them a powerful 19-3 lead. The Muskies made a comeback in the bottom of the ninth when Budzinski singled down the left field line, bringing in senior Nate Mejia. Muskingum went on to score five more runs, but the rally fell short.

The Muskies next battle Wilkes on Tuesday, March 5. Start time is slated for 1:30 p.m.

Baseball drops doubleheader on Opening Day

Sunday, March 3 - The Muskingum baseball team dropped its doubleheader against Elizabethtown on Opening Day, 8-6 and 11-8.

In the first game, senior Evan Hinds started on the mound for the Muskies and threw six innings, striking out four batters while allowing nine hits and four runs. Sophomore Matt Stewart and senior Ben Van Wey scored in the bottom of the first to give the Muskies a quick 2-0 edge. Elizabethtown brought in two runs in the top of the fourth, tying the game at two. Muskingum took a 6-2 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning after freshman Sam Pinckert batted in two runs. Junior Josh Bigrigg relieved Hinds on the mound in the seventh and allowed four runs on four hits as the Blue Jays managed to beat the Muskies in their first matchup.

Junior Holden Martin was the starting pitcher for Muskingum in game two. He allowed six runs on nine hits and notched four strikeouts. The Muskies jumped out to an early 2-0 lead when freshman Brett Carson hit a double, allowing two runners to score. Senior Marc Ibarra blasted a triple which caused Carson to cross the plate and make it 3-0. Elizabethtown answered with four runs in the bottom of the third. Then, the Blue Jays tallied three more runs over the next three innings, granting them an 11-3 advantage. In the top of the seventh, senior Michael Pagano hit a double, bringing in two runners. Muskingum was able to score three more runs, but the Blue Jays' defense halted the Muskie comeback bid.

The Muskies next face Monmouth on Monday, March 4. Start time is slated for 11:00 a.m.