Racers, Grenadiers Split Double-Header

LOUISVILLE, KY - #22 UNOH (3-8) had to rally to force extra innings before taking game one 8-7 over #18 IU-Southeast (3-8), but the Grenadiers returned the favor with a 7-2 win in game two.

Game 1: UNOH 8 IUS 7
The Racers went down in order to start the game and IU-Southeast lit the board first with one in the bottom. A lead-off walk set the stage for the second inning as UNOH used small ball to work the runner around and tie the game. A Grenadier home run in the third was the only other run with the game sitting 2-1 entering the fifth. A walk and a double brought in one for the Racers and Tyler Grigalis followed with a two-run bomb to right-center putting UNOH up 4-2. IU-Southeast answered with their own two-run shot in the bottom tying the game at four. The Grenadier bats continued to deliver as a bases-loaded triple scored three in the sixth giving IU-Southeast a 7-4 lead. Like heavy weights exchanging blows, UNOH came back with a Tyler Grigalis three-run homer down the right-field line pulling everything even once again at 7-7. All of a sudden, the bats went quiet as the scheduled seven-inning game extended into the eighth and then the ninth. Darius Freeman threw the knockout punch in the top of the ninth with his first home run of the season putting the Racers up 8-7. IU-Southeast managed to get one on in the bottom but that was all as UNOH picked up their third straight win.

Tyler Grigalis matched his career best with five RBI while going 3-5 at the plate. Josue Ortiz finished 2-3 and Diego Clariot was 2-5.

Wyatt Johnson started and went five innings giving up four runs off five hits with six strikeouts and three walks. Nick Johnson, Jeremy Yurcak and Shane Johnson combined for an inning and a third in relief giving up three runs off three hits and one walk. AJ Buchman tossed the final two and two-thirds giving up just two hits with two walks and a strikeout to pick up his first win of the season.

Game 2: IUS 7 UNOH 2 (7 Innings)
The second game started the same as the first with the Racers dropping in order and the Grenadiers scoring first in the bottom. UNOH threatened in the second but couldn't produce a run before Michael Joyce struck out the side in the home half. A walk and a single put runners on the corners and Darius Freeman brought in one for the Racers in the top of the third. The teams combined for no hits each of their respective at-bats and the game entered the bottom of the fourth still locked 1-1. It looked like the Grenadiers might add on after loading the bases with just one out, but UNOH turned a double play to work out of the jam. Diego Clariot used a two-out double and a balk to get to third in the fifth before an error at second brought him home putting the Racers up 2-1. IU-Southeast wasted no time getting back on top, thanks to some defensive mistakes by the Racers, plating two in the bottom. The Grenadiers saw their offense come alive in their next at-bat scoring four more for a commanding 7-2 lead headed into the final frame. Jared Rosado was the only Racer to get a hit in the inning as IU-Southeast completed the double-header split.

Diego Clariot went 2-4 and was the only multi-hit Racer while Darius Freeman was credited with the only RBI of the game.

Michael Joyce got the start and went four innings giving up one unearned run off four hits with six strikeouts and one walk. Jeremy Suarez went two-thirds in relief with two runs of one hit and two walks to take the loss. Tony Manzano, Sinjon Bobolia and Shane Johnson combined for an inning and a third with four runs given up off five hits and three walks.