UNOH Splits Day One at Midwest Clash

HENDERSON, TN - UNOH baseball began the Midwest Clash Saturday with a 5-2 win over IU-Kokomo before losing a tight battle to host Freed-Hardeman, 4-3.

The Racers scored first in game one plating two in their first at bat. A walk, a hit batter and a wild pitch set up the first run of the game that came off a RBI single to left. Another single loaded the bases with two outs before Fabien Romero was hit by a pitch to bring in the second run. A lead off single, a wild pitch and a balk got one run back for the Cougars in the home second but UNOH scored three more in the fourth to take control. Two walks put runners on and Drake Miller delivered a two-out, three run bomb over the left center fence to put the Racers up 5-1 after four. IU-Kokomo used two errors to get their second run in the bottom of the seventh but were held off a comeback thanks a game-ending double play.

Daniel Healy (1-1) earned his first win of the season after going six innings off the start allowing two runs, one earned, on just two hits with four walks and four strikeouts. Eliott Traver picked up his second save of the year after entering the seventh with runners on and worked two ground balls to finish off the game.

A lead off homer from Joskar Feliciano opened up game two but it was answered in the bottom of the first with a two run shot for Freed-Hardeman. The game became a pitching showdown as the teams combined for just one hit over the next four innings and they entered the sixth still 2-1 in favor of the Lions. Aided by a couple hit batters and a walk, UNOH finally broke through in the sixth thanks to a RBI fielder's choice from Feliciano before Eliomar Otero added another to put the Racers up 3-2. Freed-Hardeman responded again stringing several hits together in the home sixth that got both the runs back and put them on top 4-3 entering the final frame. UNOH managed to get a runner in scoring position with two outs in the final at bat but couldn't producing the tying run.

Elida product Brayden Lybarger threw a strong five innings off the start allowing two runs on two hits with five strikeouts and one walk. Jeremy Yurcak (1-1) tossed the final inning but allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits with one walk to take the loss.

Fabian Romero ended the day 2-4 with one RBI over the two games and Joskar Feliciano went 2-5 with two RBI and two walks.

UNOH will take on IU-Kokomo again on Sunday before finishing the Midwest Clash against IU-South Bend.