Michigan’s wacky weather didn’t stop Spring Arbor from hosting the first two games of the final series of the regular season. After being postponed on Thursday April 25, the Huntington University Foresters traveled to Spring Arbor for two games on Friday, April 26.
The Cougars took both games of the day, winning game one 5-3 and game two 3-0.
Shane Street ignited the Cougars offense with a double to start the first inning. He came around to score on a double by JP Maracani.
The Cougars scored two more runs in the second after the Foresters’ pitcher Xyan Adkisson walked Maverick Nichols and Jacob Walker to start the inning. Nichols came around to score on a single by Billy Hochradel. Walker scored on the next play when Brian Doll singled to left centerfield. This put the Cougars up 3-0.
It was during the top of the third that the Foresters came within one run of the Cougars. After getting the first batter out, Jerry Ferris gave up three consecutive hits: a bunt by Brock Gower, a single by Marc Bowers and a double by Adam Christner. It was a groundout by Jordan Klopfenstein that scored the Foresters’ second run.
Ferris pitched a complete game with 10 hits and one strikeout. He walked no batters.
The Cougars answered Huntington runs by scoring another run when Walker batted in Maracani. This run put the Cougars ahead 4-2.
Both the Foresters and Cougars scored runs in the sixth inning. The Foresters’ Bryce Anderson earned an RBI. It was the Cougars, Doll that earned the RBI for the Cougars. He batted in Zach Watson, the pinch runner for Jonathon Newman, with a double.
Ferris had a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the seventh to seal the Cougars’ 5-3 victory.
Between games, the Cougars honored the graduating class of 2013. The Cougars honored second baseman and shortstop Taylor Lange, catcher Shane Street, pitcher Dane Staples, first baseman Jacob Walker, and pitcher and outfielder Steven Kolb.
Game two started similarly for the Cougars. They scored one run in the bottom of the first and two in the bottom of the second. These were the only runs the Cougars needed to get the two-game victory in front of the home crowd.
In the first, Doll was hit by a pitch and on an error by the Foresters advanced to third. Street hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Doll.
Tyler Baker started the second inning with a single, followed with a bunt by Nichols. Baker and Nichols advanced to third and second, respectively, on a Forester throwing error. Newman doubled to left centerfield, scoring both runners and putting the Cougars up 3-0.
Greg Blanco took the mound for the Cougars and dominated the Forester offense. He gave up four hits, walking only one batter and striking out five. Blanco earned the complete game shutout victory.
The day’s victories put the Cougars at a 23-14 record overall and 19-5 in the conference. They remain in second place in the conference 3 games ahead of Mount Vernon Nazarene University.
The Cougars will finish the regular season away against Huntington University on Saturday April 27. The Crossroads League Tournament begins on May 1.
[WRITER’S NOTE: ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON WWW.SAUCOUGARS.COM]