Baseball splits against Capital during intense OAC doubleheader

• Records: Muskingum (19-7 overall, 5-5 OAC), Capital (12-18 overall, 3-7 OAC)
• Location: Huntington Park - Columbus, Ohio

How It Happened In Game One

• The Muskies got on the board first with a bunt for a single by senior Weston Melick that scored junior Sam Palmieri in the top of the third inning.
• The Comets would respond with one run in the third inning and a three-run fourth inning.
• Freshman Lex Castaneda would help bring the Muskies closer in the top of the fifth inning with a sacrifice fly to center field that brought in junior Jackson Duchesne.
• Capital would pick up another run in the bottom of the eighth inning and would take a sturdy three-run lead into the ninth inning.
• The Muskies would respond with a ninth inning full of energy and grit as they grinded out an intense two-out rally that brought in four runs and the lead.
• To start the rally, freshman Brandon Barnette would pinch hit and earn a walk as the first batter of the inning.
• Muskingum went through two batters and was down to its last out.
• Senior Ryan Schwartz and senior Tobie Teke would grind out huge at-bats as they both earned walks to load the bases.
• Palmieri would then get hit by a pitch to bring home Barnette and instantly the Muskies had new life.
• Next, freshman Jasper Owens would pinch hit for Muskingum and deliver a two-RBI double to right field that would tie the ball game at 5-5.
• Melick, now up to the plate, stood his ground with a 1-1 count and runners on second and third when he squared around to lay down an outstanding bunt towards the third-base line.
• A beauty of a bunt that brought home the game-leading run and left the Capital third baseman with no play at first.
• The Muskies would handle the Comets in the bottom of the ninth inning as graduate student Erik Cover would make quick work of the first three batters of the inning. Sealing the victory and earning the win on the mound, Cover would improve to 4-1 on the season as the Muskies earned win number 19 on the year.

Inside The Numbers 

Game 1

• The Muskies scored six runs, with eight hits, and had six RBI's. 
• Melick led the Muskies at the plate with two hits and two RBI's.
• Palmieri would fuel the Muskies with a one hit, one RBI, and two runs scored performance.
• Owens would show out in the clutch for Muskingum, as he knocked a double in his only at-bat of the contest that brought in two runs late in the contest.
• Sophomore Conner Thamann, sophomore Benny Hess, sophomore Grant Mellerson, and Duchesne would each add a hit in the game.
• Senior Noah Blecha, Teke, Barnette, and Duchesne would all score a run.
• Castaneda recorded one RBI.
• On the mound, freshman Jake Valentine got the start and pitched six innings while giving up two earned runs with six strikeouts.
• Freshman Coleman Harvey went 1.1 innings as he struck out three batters.
• Cover would finish the game off with 1.2 innings of work where he struck out three batters and didn't allow a run.

Game 2

• The Muskies finished with eight runs, 12 hits, two walks, and seven RBI's.
• Teke led the Muskies in game two with three hits and two RBI's.
• Melick logged two hits, two RBI's, and one run scored to pace the offense. Melick was responsible for the lone homer in game two for the Muskies.
• Palmieri finished with two hits, two RBI's, and one run scored to fuel Muskingum.
• Duchesne tallied two hits and one run scored.
• Hess, sophomore Aiden Reis, and Mellerson each added a hit.
• Teke, Melick, and Hess each had one double in the game.
• Junior Jake Roshau earned the start in game two and went five innings while striking out three batters.
• Junior Max Vosters came in for relief and went two innings.
• Senior Nathan Johnson went an inning in the action on the mound.
• Sophomore Gavin Schultz rounded out the pitching for Muskingum with 1.1 innings of work.

Up Next

• Muskingum will be back in action on Saturday, April 12, when they travel to Baldwin Wallace for an OAC doubleheader. The action is set to start at 1:00 p.m.