ST. LOUIS – No. 12 Missouri Baptist University fell 18-11 to Doane University on the campus of Maryville University on Thursday night. Due to weather and field conditions, the remainder of the series has been canceled.
Carlos Hidalgo had a massive 4-for-5 performance, which included four extra-base hits, two home runs, two doubles, four RBI, four runs, a walk, and a stolen base.
Doane Recap
Catcher
Marcus Graham had MBU out in front early in the bottom of the first after starting pitcher
Tait Robertson retired the side in order in the top of the first inning. Graham tripled home a run, and his pinch runner,
Kevin Watkins, scored on an RBI groundout from
Jayden Orozco.
Â
The Tigers tallied two in the top of the second to tie the game before Hidalgo clubbed a three-run home run to left field to open a 5-2 Spartan lead.
Â
Grant Sommers and the Doane offense took it from there. They went on to score 16 runs over the next four innings. Sommers ended the game with four hits in five tries and five RBI, while the Tigers' catcher Tanner Nelson drove in four, which included a home run.
Â
On the verge of being mercy-ruled in the sixth, the Spartans worked four consecutive walks to make it 18-7, followed by a grand slam from Orozco to lower the deficit to seven.
Â
After the sixth inning, the bullpens kept the rest of the game scoreless. Ethan Merk earned a four-inning save with six strikeouts for Doane.
Jameson Strozier,
Joseph Giunta, and
Gavin Raab combined for four innings, no earned runs, and nine strikeouts (three each) for MBU.
Â
Winning Pitcher: K. Crawford (3-0)
Losing Pitcher: Tait Robertson (2-1)
Save: E. Merk (1)
Â
Batting Leaders
Carlos Hidalgo: 4-for-5, 2 HR, 2 2B, 4 RBI, 4 R, BB, SB
Jayden Orozco: 1-for-4, Grand Slam, 5 RBI
Â
Record:
No. 12 Missouri Baptist: 7-2
Doane: 7-2
Â
What's Next?
MBU canceled the remainder of the Doane series due to field conditions and weather. The next game will now be on Friday, Feb. 27, to open a road, three-game set with (RV) Cumberland University. The first pitch in Lebanon, Tenn., is set for 11 a.m.
Â