LIMA, Ohio – The Indiana Tech baseball team split their spring Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) opener Saturday afternoon against the University of Northwestern Ohio, falling in game one, 3-2, and topping the Racers, 6-2, in game two, at Racer Baseball Field.
In game one, the Warriors struck first after a walk issued to
Matt Bandor would be followed up by a singles from
Ryan Meisenheimer and
Kelvin Flores would bring him home for the 1-0 advantage.
Dante Biagini would come up and collect the innings third single to bring Meisenheimer around for a 2-0 lead after two innings.
The Racers got on the board in their half of the third to cut the Tech advantage to 2-1. UNOH opened the fourth inning with a solo shot to left field to tie things at 2-2 before they would use a single to push ahead with the 3-2 lead and eventual win.
Nate McBroom pitched seven innings for the Orange and Black, allowing three runs, all earned, on six hits. Flores would finish the first contest 2-4 with one run drove in.
The Warriors struck first again in game two as they grabbed a quick 1-0 lead after their half of the first after
Bobby Bennett scored on Glenn McClain's sacrifice fly to center. An error to start the third would put Bandor on second and he came around to score on a sacrifice bunt from Flores to push Tech's lead to 2-0. A double from
Brandon Burch brought home Meisenheimer to put the Orange and Black up 3-0.
A solo shot in the second for UNOH put them on the board to cut the deficit down to 3-1, but Tech put a two-spot up in their half of the fourth after Burch scored Flores on a double down the right field line and Biagini would then score Burch on a single through the right side to make it a 5-1 game. The Racers would add another run in the bottom of the sixth, but the Warriors would answer in the top of the ninth with their final run of the contest as Bennett would come around to score after
Tighe Koehring flied out to left field for the sacrifice, providing the Orange and Black the 6-2 decision.
Jason Sterrett would get the win for Tech after putting in 5.2 innings of work, allowing two runs, both earned, on nine hits.
Jared Harvey would come in and pitch 3.1 innings for his first save of the season. Burch would finish the game 2-3 with 2 RBI's.
The Warriors (10-11, 6-2 WHAC) will return to action Sunday as they conclude their series with UNOH with a single game set for 1 p.m. at Racer Baseball Field.
