Petrangelo, Burton Pitch UNOH to Split at Freed-Hardeman

Site: Henderson, Tenn. (Carnes Field)

Scores: Game 1: Freed-Hardeman 8, #RV UNOH 4; Game 2 UNOH 11, FHU 4

Records: UNOH (2-4), FHU (2-1)

Next UNOH Event: Saturday, Feb. 7 – at Freed-Hardeman (Carnes Field) – 1 p.m.

HENDERSON, Tenn. – Despite having to settle for a split at Freed-Hardeman University, University of Northwestern Ohio baseball coach Kory Hartman said after Friday's twin-bill that he thinks the Racers are making progress.

"Today was a step in the right direction even though we split," Hartman stated. "Our men competed at the plate in both games, and our pitchers really commanded the lower part of the strike zone."

The Racers struck first in the opening game, but Freed-Hardeman slugged six doubles and took an 8-4 win in game one before UNOH flipped the script in the nightcap. In the second contest, Freed-Hardeman jumped out to an early lead, but two big innings helped the Racers earn the split with the 11-4 victory.

UNOH scored an unearned run off of Lions' starter Jack Coleman in the first inning of game one, as Brandon Collins reached on a two out error before coming around to score on a single from Juan Cruz to put the Racers ahead 1-0. Freed-Hardeman answered with a run in the bottom of the inning on a bases loaded walk, but in the top of the second, Zyler Cosby restored the UNOH lead at 2-1 with an RBI double that drove in Brett Akins.

Freed-Hardeman took control of the game in the bottom of the second frame, plating four runs to take a 5-2 lead. The Racers closed to within two when Cruz stole third base and scored on an error in the third, but in the bottom of the inning, The Lions got their first of two solo homers in the game – this one from Peyton Meeker – restoring the three-run gap. Cruz picked up his second RBI in the fifth inning, doubling home Akins to cut the deficit to 6-4, but the Racers were unable to get any closer. The Lions tacked on their final two runs in the sixth inning, providing the final margin of 8-4.

Coleman (1-0) earned the win, allowing four runs – two earned – on eight hits, one walk, and three strikeouts in six innings of work. Reuben Medina (0-2) took the loss for the Racers, giving up six runs – four earned – on eight hits in four innings, walking three and fanning a pair.

At the plate, Cruz, Akins, and Alex Leach each had multi-hit games. Cruz posted a 3-for-3 effort with a double, a stolen base, a run scored and two RBIs. Akins doubled, singled, and scored in three trips; and Leach singled twice, stole a bag, and scored a run in four at bats.

In game two, Ryan Petrangelo took the ball and he pitched very well from the start. The junior transfer from Oakley, California did not allow a hit until the third inning of the game, but the first hit he did yield was a 3-run homer to Argenis Salazar that suddenly had the Racers down 3-0. That score remained the same into the fifth inning when the Racers took full advantage of a Lions' defensive miscue.

The Racers loaded the bases with one out when Akins drew a bases loaded walk to get the Racers on the board. Cruz then reached on a fielder's choice, and he advanced to second on a wild throw that allowed two runs to score, tying the game at 3-3. Randal Muhlenkamp followed with an RBI groundout to short, and after a Brandon Collins single and a Cory Cook double, the Racers had plated six runs to take a 6-3 lead.

The Lions tallied an unearned run off of Petrangelo in the bottom of the fifth, but the Racers put the game away in the top of the seventh inning. Collins drove in two runs with a single to start the inning, and a third run scored on an error on the play. Carlos Baerga scored a run on a wild pitch, and Cosby rounded out the scoring by driving in Austin Lenhardt with a groundout to second to plate the game's final run as the Racers took the win, 11-4.

Petrangelo (1-0) lasted five innings, allowing four runs on four hits and two walks, striking out seven in earning the victory. Ryan Fares (0-1) took the loss for the Lions, yielding six runs on seven hits in four and two-thirds innings. Burton threw four scoreless innings in relief of Petrangelo to earn his first career save.

Collins was 3-for-5 with a run and three RBIs, and Kyle Fisher singled twice in five trips. Akins and Cruz each scored twice in the game as well.

The teams will play another double-header on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for Noon.

Notes:

The Racers have now scored at least 11 runs in three games this season – once on each date on which they have played … UNOH has already hit 15 doubles this season after setting a program single season record with 92 two-base knocks in 2014 … 11 different Racers have hit doubles this season … Jose Cruz has created 14 runs this season and Brandon Collins has 10 Runs Created.