Baseball splits series with IU-Columbus on Tuesday

(Columbus, IN) - The Rochester Christian baseball team closed out their spring break trip in Columbus, Indiana with a matchup against the IU-Columbus Crimson Pride in a doubleheader. IUC took the first game in a tight 6-5 comeback, before RCU had a 7-6 win in game two. RCU moves their record to 7-8 on the season. 

GAME 1 - IU-COLUMBUS 6, ROCHESTER CHRISTIAN 5

Louis Frontero opened the game on the mound for RCU with three innings pitched, allowing three runs on three hits with three strikeouts. 

RCU got started on the right foot in the first inning with a pair of runs with Dakota Shafer hitting a double to score Issander Vega, before coming around to score himself on a passed ball. The second inning would see Beau Falkenhagen double home Matthew Shakotko and Jayden Peterson bringing home Falkenhagen. IUC would grab a pair of runs back in the bottom of the second with a home run. 

The Warriors regained the three run lead with Aiden Alspaugh doubling home Dakota Shafer, making it 5-2. The top of the fourth inning, saw the first scoreless inning for RCU with IUC scoring a run on a balk from Tryce Davis. 

The momentum of the game would switch towards the Crimson Pride with a three-run fifth inning, taking their first lead of the game, piecing together a couple of hits. RCU would go quietly, dropping the first game of the doubleheader. 

Tryce Davis (0-1) came in to relief for Frontero, pitching a pair of innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on three hits with a trio of strikeouts. Landon Fahey closed out the final inning, not allowing a baserunner and striking out one batter. 

GAME 2 - ROCHESTER CHRISTIAN 7, IU-COLUMBUS 6

Will Pflaum opened the game, getting through two outs with a strikeout. 

Both teams grabbed runs in the first inning with RCU leading 4-3, following the first. Dakota Shafer, Aiden Alspaugh, and Parker Lassner all singled, with Ayden Novak hitting a sacrifice fly. IUC hit a three-run homer to draw within a run. 

The second inning had the game re-tie up at five runs each with Issander Vega singling home Cael Kuzinski, while the Crimson Pride hit a two-RBI double. This would be the only scoring action until the sixth inning. 

Nathaniel Crane broke the tie in the game with a two-RBI single with Jayden Peterson and Vinnie Campisi scoring, making the score 7-5. IUC knocked a leadoff single in the sixth, with the runner eventually coming around to score on a single, before the inning ended. Both teams left a runner on base in the seventh , with Jayden Peterson earning a strikeout to end the game. 

Jeffrey Preston pitched the next inning, allowing two runs on one hit with a strikeout. Matthew Shakotko (1-3) earned the win, pitching 3.1 innings, only allowing a run on two hits. Jayden Peterson (3) earned the save in the game, pitching the final two innings, with three baserunners. Shakotko and Peterson both struck out a pair of batters. 

UP NEXT

The Warriors will be back on the field on Saturday, March 14, when they open up Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) play against Lourdes University at 1 PM.