(Camanchee, IA) An early scoring outburst and the mentality fighting back could not bring the RedHawks a road win as they lost both games o f a doubleheader against Ashford University by scores of 9-4 and 15-5.
In the first game, the Hawks scored first as Jeremy Ratajczyk delivered a run-scoring single after Ryan Halbe reached on a fielder's choice and Nick Moore singled. With that 1-0 lead, the Hawks struck for three in the top of the fourth.
With one out in the frame, Ryan Halbe doubled and Nick Moore followed with an RBI single to make the score 2-0. Then on a 1-0 pitch, Jeremy Ratajczyk launched the teams' first home run of the season on a blast to right field to increase the lead to 4-0.
The Saints struck back in the bottom of the fourth with one out as Anthony Misitano led the outburst with a double. Jake Peters singled him to third and a wild pitch moved both runners and made the score 4-1. Cameron Puetz smashed a double to make the score 4-2. Taylor Boyer, running for Puetz, scored on an error by Ryan Halbe and then leadoff hitter Mike Ray gave the Saints the lead for good with a two-run double. Austin Poindexter closed the scoring in the frame with an RBI groundout.
The Saints would add three more runs in the fifth and sixth innings with and RBI double and three unearned runs to close the scoring. Hunter Allspaugh picked up the win while RedHawks starter Christian Jefferson pitching another complete game, took the loss.
In game two, the Hawks struck early again as they scored two in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly by Corey Scott and an RBI double by Ryan Halbe to give the Hawks a 2-0 lead. The Saints would answer in the bottom of the frame on an RBI single by Adam Wojciehowski, and RBI double by Demetric Turner, and RBI singles by Roman Davis and Taylor Boyer and the Saints led 4-2 after the first inning.
In the bottom of the third, the Saints would increase their lead on a two-run single by Roman Davis and a run-scoring double by Matt Richard to make the score 7-2.
The Hawks would answer back in the top of the fourth on a two-run double by Jesse Tomich after Jeremy Ratajczyk led off the inning with a single and Jamar Averyhart was hit by a pitch. However the Saints would put the game away with a five-run outburst in the bottom of the frame and put the game away. After leadoff hitter Mike Ray walked and stole second and third, Michael Caravia laced a run-scoring single. Hawks starting pitcher Josh Santiago seemed to be settling down as he recorded back to back strikeouts. But after Roman Davis was hit by a pitch, Jason Fletcher laced a run-scoring single and Taylor Boyer struck again with a two-run double. Boyer would score on a wild pitch to make the score 12-4.
In the sixth inning for the RedHawks, Jamar Averyhart reached on an error and Chris Jefferson walked in a pinch-hitting role. Corey Scott got Averyhart home with an RBI groundout to the pitcher. The Saints then ended the game in the bottom of the frame as Mike Ray blasted a two-out, three-run home run to left-center field. Nolan McNeill got the win for the Saints while Josh Santiago took the loss in a complete-game effort.