The Missouri Western baseball team went 1-1 on opening day against the Wonder Boys of Arkansas Tech. In game one the Griffons got a strong pitching performance from Jerad Hawkins and two home runs from Jake Schrader on their way to a 6-2 victory. In the night cap the Griffons fell 7-2.
Game 1
Missouri Western 6, Arkansas Tech 2
The Griffons pounded out 13 hits and got two home runs from Jake Schrader in a 6-2 victory over the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys in their season opener. The Griffons had five players get at least two hits with David Chew going 3-for-5 with one run scored, one RBI and one double.
The Griffons got on the board first when Schrader blasted a homer over the right field wall in the second inning. The Griffons added another run in the 3rd when Chew singled in Trevor LaHonta.
Arkansas Tech responded in the bottom of the 3rd with five hits tying the score at two. Zac Johnson singled to the pitcher which scored James Sharp and Kris Ayers singled to second base scoring Chance Scamardo.
From there the Griffon pitchers were lights out as Jared Hawkins went 5.2 innings with five strikeouts while Mason Queen, CJ Koehler and Tyler Sanders combined to pitch 4.0 innings with five strikeouts. Hawkins improves to 1-0 with the victory.
The Griffons took the lead for good in the 6th when Cody Childs got a sacrifice scoring Ryan Degner from third. In the 7th Schrader hit his second homer of the game giving the Griffons a 5-2 lead and they tacked on one more when Degner scored from third on a wild pitch.
Schrader finished with 3 RBI while scoring two runs while Degner went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
The Wonder Boys got eight hits with Patrick Castleberry going 2-for-4. R. Ryan Taylor got the start going 3.0 innings giving up six hits and two earned runs. Aaron Johnson got the loss going 3.0 innings giving up five hits and two earned runs. He falls to 0-1 with the loss.
Game 2
Arkansas Tech 7, Missouri Western 3
In game two the Wonder Boys got on the board first with two runs in the first off three hits. Back-to-back doubles by Johnson and Mike Kattula plated two unearned runs giving Arkansas Tech the 2-0 lead after one.
In the second the Griffons got the two runs back on four hits. Degner hit his first career home run while Trevor LaHonta singled scoring Zach Kroymann tying the score at two.
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The score stayed that way until the 4th when two walks hurt the Griffons. James Sharp singled in two runs while Castleberry hit a sacrifice fly to right field giving the Wonder Boys the lead for good.
After their big second inning the Griffons went four straight innings with out a hit. In the seventh they scratched across one run on one hit, but the Wonder Boys responded with two more in the 7th picking put the four run victory.
The Griffons had just six hits in the game with six different players getting hits. Mark Spreckels started for the Griffons going just one inning. He gave up three hits and two unearned runs. Matt Russell got the loss going 1.1 innings giving up one hits while walking and striking out three. Koehler had the best outing going 1.2 innings with one strikeout.
The Wonder Boys had nine hits with S. Boehner and Castleber each getting two hits. Zach Skelton had an outstanding day going 6.0 innings giving up five hits with two earned runs. He struckout nine Griffons. Arkansas Tech improves to 4-2 with the win.
The Griffons return to action on Friday, February 21 opening up their MIAA schedule against the Northeastern State RiverHawks. Game time is set for 2 pm from the Griffon Baseball Field.
— MWSU Sports Information —