ALLIANCE, Ohio - The No. 10 nationally ranked Mount Union baseball team (23-6) split with Ohio Northern (19-8) in an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader, as the Purple Raiders improved to 8-2 in OAC play.
In game one, junior left-handed pitcher
Luke Ickes (Green, OH / Green) had a dominant performance, pitching 8.0 innings with eight strikeouts, tying his career-high. Ickes allowed only four hits and two runs, both of which were unearned. With the victory, Ickes earned his fifth win of the season.
Offensively, Mount Union started the game hot in the first, as senior outfielder
Chris Tsouras (Las Vegas, NV / Arbor) hit a two-RBI triple to deep center field off the wall. In the third inning, sophomore shortstop
Daniel Tome III (Cleveland, OH / St. Edwards) delivered a booming two-RBI double to left field, as Tome went 2-for-4 with an extra-base hit and three RBIs.
In the seventh inning, the Polar Bears added two runs, highlighted by two RBI singles by catcher Andrew Stechschulte and shortstop Robbie Reed. The Purple Raiders responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. Junior outfielder
Brycen Fox (Hamilton, OH / Badin) delivered an RBI single to center field, as Fox had an outstanding game one, going 3-for-5 with three singles.
Mount Union kept it pouring offensively in the eighth inning, adding three more runs. Junior third baseman
Drew Denham (Alliance, OH / Marlington) hit his fifth home run of the season, with a solo blast to left field. The Purple Raiders added two more runs off a wild pitch sequence.
Junior right-handed pitcher
Christopher Maurer (Hudson, OH / Hudson)pitched the final inning for the Purple Raiders, tallying one strikeout and allowing one run. Maurer closed the door and secured the 9-3 victory for the Purple Raiders.
In game two, junior right-handed pitcher
Drew Gernert got the start, pitching 5.0 innings with three strikeouts, allowing six runs.
It was a pitching duel throughout the game, as Ohio Northern's starting pitcher Drew Tolfree pitched 6.0 innings with eight strikeouts, allowing only four hits and one run.
In the fifth and sixth innings, the Polar Bears erupted for eight runs. In the bottom of the seventh, the Purple Raiders managed to add two runs. Freshman first baseman
Luke Perkins (Olmstead Falls, OH / Olmstead Falls) hit an RBI single to left field, followed by Fox, who also contributed with an RBI single.
Freshman right-handed pitcher
Evan Roberts (Newark, OH / Licking Valley) pitched 2.0 innings, recording three strikeouts and allowing two runs, one of which was earned. In contrast, senior right-handed pitcher
Leo Fornara (Chagrin Falls, Ohio / Chagrin Falls) also pitched 2.0 innings, allowing no runs and just one hit while recording a strikeout.
In the eighth inning, Ohio Northern added another run, while the Purple Raiders did the same when Denham hit an RBI single to left-center field. The Polar Bears managed to prevent a late rally from Mount Union, ultimately securing a 9-3 victory.
Mount Union's next game will be tomorrow at home at Rafeld-Rogers Field in a non-conference matchup against No. 19 nationally ranked Washington & Jefferson College. First pitch is set for 1:00 PM.
