AUBURNDALE, Fla. - The Martin Luther College baseball team finished its annual spring break trip with a split in its doubleheader against Westminster (Pa.). The Knights lost the opener 7-5, but closed the trip with a 19-5 win in game two.

Westminster (Pa.) 7, MLC 5

MLC clawed back from an early five-run deficit, but the Titans scored a pair of runs in the sixth inning to take game one 7-5.

Dillon Solomon started on the mound for MLC and struggled early, allowing five runs on three hits and three walks in the first inning. He would settle in after that, however, and pitched four scoreless innings to give the Knights a chance at a come back.

That chance paid off for MLC with a five-run fifth inning. The Knights sent 10 batters to the plate, and both Caleb Christopher and Adam Westra smacked two-run singles to help tie the game 5-5.

The Titans answered, however, with three two-out hits in the bottom of the sixth inning off reliever Adam Kock (0-2) to take the lead once again. The Knights put the tying run on base in their final at bat, but could not get the big hit to extend the game.

MLC 19, Westminster (Pa.) 5

The Knights scored six runs in the first inning and nine more in the third frame on the way to a 19-5 win in game two to conclude the trip.

MLC needed only three hits to score six in the first inning thanks to six walks or hit batters by Titan pitchers. In the nine-run third inning, the Knights sent 13 batters to the plate and recorded seven hits. Matt Baehman and Wade Shult each had two-run doubles in the inning, while Nate Goelzer, Tyler Roecker and Andrew Deisinger also drove in runners with singles before the third out. 

That would be more than enough support for Baehman (1-1), who started the game and cruised through three hitless innings before allowing all five runs on five hits in the fourth inning. Goelzer came in relief and threw three scoreless innings to close the game.

The Knights finished with a season-high 17 hits. Baehman led the team with three hits and three runs scored to go with three runs batted in. Roecker, Joey Behm, Westra, Deisinger and Shult each recorded a pair of hits, while Shult led the team with a career-high five RBI.

MLC moved to 2-6 on the season, while the Titans are now 2-2 following the split.

The Knights are scheduled to return to action on March 21 for a non-conference doubleheader at Bethany Lutheran.