The Mount Union baseball team (3-4) lost both of its games on Saturday, where it played no. 2 nationally-ranked Salve Regina University and Buena Vista University in Auburndale, Florida.
In game one against Slave Regina, the Purple Raiders offense started hot, scoring five runs, capped off with a big two-run home run to left field by freshman outfielder
Chris Tsouras ( Las Vegas, Nevada / Arbor).
Salve Regina surged ahead by scoring nine unanswered runs. Mount Union managed to add one more run with an RBI single by graduate second baseman Andrew Witte (Mentor, Ohio / Mentor). However, Salve Regina continued their scoring streak, adding seven more unanswered runs to secure a 16-6 victory in seven innings.
In game two, Purple Raiders graduate starting pitcher Jaired Lehman (Monroeville, PA. / Gateway) had a strong outing. Lehman pitched five innings, allowed only four hits and one earned run and recorded eight strikeouts. Out of the bullpen, senior pitcher
Chris Phillips dominated, pitching four innings with six strikeouts, allowing only three hits and zero runs.
Offensively, the Purple Raiders started the game with the lead with an RBI single from senior shortstop Alex Stegman (Berea, Ohio / Berea-Midpark). The Purple Raiders went down 3-1 and started a rally in the ninth with an RBI base hit by graduate catcher
Joey Procop (Twinsburg / Twinsburg, Ohio). Ultimately, the rally fell short, resulting in the 3-2 loss.
Mount Union's next game will be Monday against Mitchell University at 9:30 AM.
