Baseball takes postponed double-header against Titans

After sweeping Clackamas early last week, the Saints went back to work last Thursday, making up a double header versus the Lane Titans that had been previously postponed.

The scoreboard indicates they were more than ready for whatever Lane brought their way. MHCC capitalized on three Titan fielding errors, as well as providing sophomore starting pitcher Eric Huson with an eight-run fourth inning in the 13-1 game one rout in favor of the Saints.

Huson went all seven innings for MHCC, striking out three hitters, and only allowing one run on three hits.

The offensive onslaught was lead by sophomore Jake Thran, who put in a 3-for-4 day at the plate, including a grand slam home run during the eight-run fourth. Sophomore Ryan Degner had  two-run home run of his own in the bottom of the sixth inning, joining the long ball party as he and Thran both drove in four runs during the top half of the double header. Game two didn’t start off as hot as the Titans took a 3-0 lead after two innings of play.

But yet again, the Saint bats came alive and scored 11 runs between the third and the fifth innings. Degner had another productive outing as he hit 2-for-3, drove in three runs, and scored two of his own.

Sophomore Hunter Weiss also contributed two RBI in his two hit effort, and freshman Jon Welbourn tacked on two hits of his own, scoring a run during the 11-3 victory, completing the sweep.

Sophomore Zev Egli started the game for MHCC, but after giving up three runs in four innings on the bump, the bullpen was trusted to finish the job. The combination of freshmen Joe Piercey and Sam Moreland pitched the final three innings, giving up no runs on one Titan hit, with Piercey earning the W.

A duel featuring the top two teams from the Southern Region was scheduled for last weekend, but the weather kept the Saints from squaring off against the Linn-Benton Roadrunners, so those games were postponed until April 18.

The Saints used their time off to get ready for SWOCC, a team on the other side of the standings as them, sitting at the bottom of the South. Traveling to Coos Bay Tuesday proved to be a successful trip.

The first half of the double header saw sophomore starter Jon Bjorklund go seven strong innings, striking out five Laker hitters, and shutting them en route to earning a win. Sophomore Myles Richard allowed four hits in his two innings of work, but kept SWOCC scoreless as the Saints won their fifth game in a row, 5-0.

Thran led the offense again with three of the team’s 10 hits, not without help though as sophomore catcher Marcus Blcakmon drove in two runs on two hits of his own. Game two was a little tighter, but still went in MHCC’s favor.

Freshman starter Clint Burris threw six shutout innings, only allowing five Lakers to reach base, giving up four hits and walking one. Egli came in to close the game threw a perfect seventh inning to close the door, extending the Saints winning streak to 6 after the 2-0 victory in game two.

Results from MHCC’s make-up double header against Linn-Benton were unavailable by press time.

The Saints will host the Southern region’s fourth place team, the Chemeketa Storm, tomorrow for back-to-back games; the second meeting of the year for these teams (splitting the first double header with one victory a piece).