Walks and erros on the defensive side forced the STLCC baseball team to split with St. Charles Community College on Sunday afternoon, losing game 1, 4-2, and rallying for a 7-1 victory in game 2.
Game 1
Sam Lombard picked up the lone RBI for STLCC in the opener when he hit a sacrifice fly to rightfield in the fifth inning. Matthew Blake drew the start on the mound for the Archers and was tagged with the lose throwing two and two-thirds innings, allowing six walks and giving up four runs, only one of which were earned. Blake Hutchison came into the game in relief and threw three and a third innings, only allowing two hits and no runs.
Game 2
After St. Charles scored a run in the bottom of the fourth inning, STLCC tacked on three runs in the top of the fifth inning to take the lead for good and tacked on two more runs in the top of the sixth inning and two more in the top of the eighth inning. Nick DeBeer notched three hits, scored a run and drove a run in during the victory, while Jeff Huser had two hits, drive in a run and scored three runs. Jackson Boschert plated two runs in the victory, while William Sprick and McGwire Dean each doubled, with Dean collected two hits and two RBI. Connor Cline got his first start of the year for STLCC, throwing two innings, while not allowing a run and striking out three Cougars in the no decision. Branden Bennett picked up the win in relief by throwing three and two-thirds innings, allowing only a single hit and striking out three hitters to move to 2-1 on the year.
STLCC moves to 6-6 on the year and 3-1 in Region 16 play, and plays host to SWIC for a 1:00 pm doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon on the Meramec campus.