UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio—The Mount Union baseball team split a Saturday doubleheader, earning a hard-fought 10-7 victory over RIT before dropping a 7-5 decision to host John Carroll in the afternoon contest.
Game One: Mount Union 10, RIT 7
RIT (2-4) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, however, Mount Union responded immediately in the bottom half. Junior
Derek Curry (Pittsburgh, PA / West Allegheny) provided the spark with a two-RBI triple down the right-field line that scored junior
Luke Ickes (Green, Ohio / Green) and junior
Daniel Tome III (Cleveland, OH / St. Edwards) to give the Raiders a 3-1 lead.
Leading 3-2 in the fourth, Mount Union exploded for six runs to break the game open. The offensive surge was highlighted by a two-run home run from senior
Chris Tsouras (Las Vegas, NV / Arbor), his second of the season, and RBIs from Tome III and junior
Brycen Fox (Hamilton, OH / Badin). Senior
Aidan Schroeder (Pittsburgh, PA / Keystone Oaks) added insurance in the seventh inning with an RBI triple that scored junior
Drew Denham (Alliance, OH / Marlington).
On the mound, Ickes started the game, striking out five over 4.2 innings. Freshman
Logan Ellis (Lakewood, OH / Lakewood) earned the win in relief, the first of his collegiate career, after pitching 4.1 innings while allowing three runs and striking out one.
Game Two: John Carroll 7, Mount Union 5
In the second game of the day, John Carroll (4-0) capitalized on late-inning opportunities. Mount Union established an early 3-0 lead through the first four innings. The Blue Streaks responded with three runs in the bottom of the fourth—aided by a Raider error—to tie the game. John Carroll scored four unanswered runs combined in the fifth and sixth innings to take a 7-4 lead. Mount Union attempted a late comeback in the eighth when Tome III singled down the left-field line to score Fox and cut the lead to 7-5, but the Raiders were unable to pull any closer.
Mount Union senior
Anthony Warner (Louisville, OH / Louisville) started on the mound, pitching 4.0 innings and allowing four earned runs. Senior
Ryan Romito (North Ridgeville, OH / North Ridgeville) (1-1) took the loss in relief, surrendering two runs over two innings. Junior
Drew Gernert (Mequon, WI / Homestead) provided relief with two hitless innings to close out the game.
Mount Union (7-2) will travel for its seven-game Florida trip in the RussMatt Baseball Invitational, starting against Anderson on Saturday, March 7, at 9 a.m.
