Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | Photo Gallery
BENTON HARBOR, Mich. – On a very windy day at Lake Michigan College, the Indians outplayed the streaking Raiders (who had won 4 in a row) in both games resulting in two victories for the home team.
LMC scored the go ahead run in the 6th inning of game one to prevail 3-2, and then in game two overcame a 7th inning Raider rally, winning 5-3.
The Raiders managed just four hits and five base runners in game one. The Indians pitcher was one of the best the Raiders have seen thus fare as she struck out five and walked one while allowing zero earned runs. Freshman Chelcie Eaton’s defense was just as solid behind her and that was maybe the biggest story of the day. The Indians prevailed in both games, not because of out hitting the Raiders, but because of their “D”.
With the score nodded at 2 going into the 7th inning, the Raider’s best hitter was due up first. Freshman Kellen Dewey (.413 BA), ripped a line drive double off the centerfield fence, only to be thrown out at third trying to get the extra base. It proved costly as the next batter, Lindsey Schroedter, would have moved her to third anyways (groundout to second) and who knows what would have happened after that. Brenna Donahue ending the game by flying out to the shortstop in foul territory on the ensuing play.
Dewey ended the game 2 for 2 and also had an RBI sac-fly in the 4th inning. Alison Iuelle and Jessica Kohloff added the two other hits for the Raiders (12-16, 6-8). Ashley Raap, who pitched a fine game, dropped her record to 5-5.
The Indians (8-18, 7-5) struck first in game two with two runs in the 1st inning. The Raider hitters did a better job seeing the ball in the game (striking out just twice), but LMC made play after play and hung on to a well deserved win.
Raider starter Casey Cherry (4-8) allowed five runs (four earned), nine hits, and five walks in the losing effort. She also added two more to her HBP record. She has now hit 21 batters in 57 innings pitched this season.
Though the Raiders only had three hits and trailed 5-0 after 6 innings, they made one more run at it after they cleared their bench. On the first pitch of the 7th inning sophomore Alison Iuelle, who just three games ago set the career homerun record for GRCC, added another one to her resume with a shot over left-center fence. Let the rally begin.
Dewey (2 for 3) followed Iuelle up by scorching a single to left and the Raider dugout continued to roar. Two batters later, Brittany Frye (also 2 for 3) singled through the left side making it runners on 1st and 2nd with pinch hitter Katie Hammond at the plate. The LMC leftfielder, who had five great catches already on the day, laid out for her 6th catch, robbing Hammond of an RBI hit. But the Raider rally would still continue.
Next batter, Adrienne Palmer, ripped a single up the middle scoring Allie Annese and moving Frye over to third. Pinch hitter Megan Bridges proceeded to find 1st base of her own on a fielding error by the shortstop and scored Frye making it a 5-3 ball game. Pinch hitter Julia Vasquez then hit would looked like extra bases to right center, but the centerfielder made a great diving catch, barely hanging on to the ball and preserving the win for her team.
GRCC will look for a win again when they travel to Owens CC on Thursday in non-conference play.
