GOSHEN, Ind. – Despite solid performances on the mound from
Jack Bennett and
Camm Nickell, the Maple Leafs were unable to snag a win against Mount Vernon Nazarene on Tuesday, losing 5-3 and 3-1.
Bennett pitched seven innings for the Leafs in game one. He struck out four and walked two. And while he allowed three runs, none of them were earned runs. The teams combined for nine errors in the first game.
The Cougars led 5-0 until Goshen started a late rally. In the bottom of the ninth,
Jenner Rodammer got on base via a dropped fly ball, and
Nate Lange scored on the play. Nickell scored on a single by
Morgan Baker, and Rodammer scored on one from
Joseph Cerda. The rally ended there, and MVNU won 5-3.
Peyton Smith had two singles and a walk for Goshen.
Joshua Rubio had his first double of the season.
For Mount Vernon, Josh Pettit gave up no earned runs and three hits in six innings as he earned the win. He struck out 13 while walking three.
There were no errors between the teams in game two, and all the scoring happened early. The Cougars sealed it after their second batter of the game. Andrew Miller snuck a two-run home run down the left-field line to give MVNU a 2-0 lead with no outs in the first. In the bottom of the inning,
Peyton Smith singled and scored Lange, who had singled earlier in the frame. Mount Vernon tacked on another run in the top of the second, but that would be the end of the scoring for both teams in the seven-inning game. MVNU won 3-1.
Goshen had at least one hit in every inning, but they couldn't bring those baserunners around to score. Nickell struck out nine batters in six innings for GC. He only allowed two earned runs and walked three. Logan Fox only struck out three in seven innings on the mound for the Cougars (16-9, 11-3 CL). However, he only walked one and allowed one run.
Rodammer went 2-3 for Goshen (4-20, 1-13 CL). He has had multiple hits in eight of his last nine games and is hitting .375 this season.
Goshen hosts Taylor on Thursday, March 31, at 1:00 pm. Taylor is receiving votes in the NAIA coaches poll. The teams will then play at Taylor on Saturday, April 2, at 1:00 pm. Stay tuned for weather updates.