NEW CONCORD, Ohio – The Mount Union baseball team concluded its 2023 season at Muskingum in an Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) doubleheader on Saturday.
The Purple Raiders lost game one, 4-3, however regrouped and won, 9-8, in extra innings in game two.
In the first game, the Raiders took a 2-1 lead when senior
Zack Mazza (Flint, Mich. / Powers Catholic) connected on a two-run double in the third. After Muskingum tied it, sophomore
Alex Stegman (Berea, Ohio / Berea-Midpark) hit an RBI-double in the fifth to regain the lead for Mount. The Muskies, however, scored one in the fifth and sixth innings to win game one. Raider junior
Jaired Lehman (Monroeville, Pa. / Gateway) (5-2) pitched five solid innings, giving up two earned runs (four total) off five hits and striking out four.
The Raiders battled back in game two from being down 6-2 and forced extra innings after a ninth-inning home run by Mazza, extending his career school record to 31 (ninth of the season). In the 13th inning, Mount senior
John Razzante (Mayfield, Ohio / Mayfield) hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Mazza for the eventual game-winning run. Junior
Chuck Hawley (Mentor, Ohio / Mentor) improved to 3-0 on the season, after coming in for relief and pitching 8.0 innings and only allowing one earned run (two total) off five hits and striking out two.
Mount Union, under veteran head coach
Paul Hesse, finished the season 22-15-1 overall and 10-8 in the conference.
