Princeton, IN – Going into this weekend, the Mighty Oaks baseball team was 8-0. A busy weekend with two doubleheaders on the schedule. On Saturday the Bethel University Pilots were the opponent. On Sunday they Oaks will take on Marian University.
Game 1
An early lead for the Pilots from Bethel University set the tone for the rest of the game. In the first inning, they were able to take a 1-0 lead after a single followed by an RBI double. Their lead grew to 3-0 in the second inning, after Thomas Dolan hit a two-run homerun for the opposing team.
In the bottom half of the second inning, the Mighty Oaks were able to create a little bit of offense.
Alec Pruitt drove in
Xander Willis with a double to deep center field.
More offense occurred in the fourth inning, both teams were able to score once. With runners on first and third base, an errant throw to second base by the Pilots catcher allowed
Garrett Causey to score. This made it a 4-2 ballgame, with the Mighty Oaks still down.
Garrett Causey didn't like the fact that the Mighty Oaks were still losing, in the sixth inning he tied the game up with a two-run homerun. This was his third homerun of the season. The score would remain tied till the last inning, when the Pilots were able to plate three runs.
Four hits, including two doubles moved the score to 7-4, which ended up being the final score at Gil Hodges Field. With that, the Mighty Oaks, surrendered their first loss of the season.
Alec Pruitt and
Garrett Causey led the home team, both having two hits. On the mound for the Mighty Oaks
Gehrig Tenhumberg (5 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO),
Tyler Butler (L, 3.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 SO) and
Christian Burgrabe (0.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO) fought hard to keep the team in this close game.
Game 2
It was time for redemption in game two, for the Mighty Oaks. At the start, things didn't look to hot for the Mighty Oaks. Once again, Bethel University took an early lead. Three basehits and a walk allowed them to take a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. The Bethel lead expanded to 3-0 in the second inning.
The Mighty Oaks were able to score their first run of the in the third inning, when
Sam Pinckert singled home
Mason Simon, who drew a walk to get on base.
The next inning was a very big one for the home team.
Payton Hall scored the second Mighty Oaks run on a triple from
Xander Willis. Willis was able to tie up the game on an RBI single through the right side from
Chase Christie. To take the lead, freshman catcher
Oliver Hamilton connected for his first homerun in college baseball. A deep drive to left field gave Oakland City a 3-5 lead in the bottom of the fourth.
Sam Pinckert grew the lead, with another homerun for the home squad. A solo shot to center field put the Mighty Oaks up by three after five innings.
With two innings left in the game, the Pilots were able to score one more run in the sixth, but after this,
Evan Price shut the door for Oakland City. Price, who threw 1.2 innings, allowed one hit, walked two and struck out four to collect his first save of the season. He followed up
Weston Allen, who threw 1.1 innings, allowing one earned run on a hit and a walk, he also struck out one. The starting pitcher for the Mighty Oaks was
Owen Spears. Spears earned the win, throwing four innings, while giving up six hits, 3 runs (all earned), walking one and striking out four.
Oakland City is now 9-1, going into tomorrow's doubleheader versus Marian University. The games will start at 12:30 PM at Gil Hodges Field in Princeton.
Tommy Johnson will toe the rubber for the Mighty Oaks in the first game against the Knights, who are 5-2 on the season.
