Racers Split Series at Freed-Hardeman

Site: Henderson, Tenn. (Carnes Field)

Scores: Game 1: Freed-Hardeman 8, #RV UNOH 7; Game 2 UNOH 8, FHU 6

Records: UNOH (3-5), FHU (3-2)

Next UNOH Event: Saturday, Feb. 14 – at St. Andrews University (Clark Field) – 1 p.m.

HENDERSON, Tenn. – After a quick start to Saturday's first game, the University of Northwestern Ohio baseball team was in position at Freed-Hardeman University to take their first series of the season. Unfortunately for UNOH, the Racers were unable to close out the win in game one, though they did rebound to earn a split in the back half of the twin-bill.

UNOH tallied two runs in each of the first three innings of play in game one, but the Lions scored twice in the second and three times in the third to pull within a single run at 6-5. In the fifth frame, Freed-Hardeman scored twice to take the 7-6 lead, and they held that lead into the seventh inning.

In the seventh frame, the Racers tied the game on an RBI double from Rafael Lozada that scored Austin Lenhardt to knot the score at seven, and it looked as though the game would head to extra innings. In the bottom half, however, a two-out error allowed the winning run to score, and the Lions took the win 8-7.

Brandon Guske (2-0) was unable to convert the save for FHU, but he did earn the win, throwing two innings and allowing one earned run on two hits. Jeff Rousseau (1-1) allowed one unearned run on three hits in two and two-thirds innings of work and was saddled with the tough luck loss.

Brandon Collins highlighted the game offensively for the Racers, rapping a pair of singles in three at bats and driving in three runs, and Rafael Lozada was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.

UNOH wasted no time in game two, plating four runs in the top of the first inning to take the early 4-0 lead. Freed-Hardeman cut the Racers' lead in half in the second frame, but UNOH bounced back with single runs in the third and fourth to push their lead to 6-2. The Lions tallied two runs in the fifth, and one more in the sixth to close the gap to 6-5, but a pair of Racer runs in the eighth inning provided the Racers with some breathing room on their way to the 8-6 victory.

Enrico Ciuffetelli (1-0) picked up the win in relief for the Racers, throwing five innings and allowing three earned runs on five hits, walking three and fanning nine Lions. Chris Fail (0-1) took the loss for the Lions after he allowed four earned runs on three hits and two walks in recording just two outs in the first inning. John Schreiber (2) threw the eighth and ninth frames for the Racers, fanning two and giving up one hit and one earned run in earning his second save on the young season.

Alex Leach and Brett Akins each had three hits in the game, with Leach registering a double and two runs scores, while Akins scored once and drove in a pair. Cory Cook added a 2-for-4 game with a pair of RBIs as well.

UNOH will continue their early season road schedule next weekend, heading to Laurinburg, North Carolina to play a four-game series at St. Andrews University (0-4) on Saturday and Sunday. Each day's double-header is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.

Notes:

Collins' 3-RBI game in game one gives him 11 for the season through just eight games. If he keeps that pace up, Collins would drive in 75 runs on the year … The series split keeps the Racers above the .500 mark all-time against FHU, with a record of 4-3 against the Lions … Ciuffetelli leads the Racers with 18 strikeouts in 11.2 innings pitched on the young season, numbers that average out to over 14 strikeouts per nine innings … Akins (.423) and Jose Cruz (.450) are stil hitting better than .400 after the first eight games of the season