Auburndale, FL - The Martin Luther College baseball squad fell to Drew University (Madison, NJ) on Thursday evening in a doubleheader. The Rangers defeated MLC
14-5 in game one and then
11-5 in the later game.
Drew 14, MLC 5
Drew held a steady lead through two frames until
Jackson Lindemann singled into the right side to put MLC on the board in the top of the third (3-2). Drew tacked on one more run in the bottom of the third, before MLC did the same in the top of the fourth.
The Rangers had a big inning in the bottom of the fourth that ultimately won them the game. Aiden Mitchell blasted a three-run home run into left field towards the end of the inning that fully swung the momentum and game in their favor.
Lindemann finished with two RBI, while
Jackson Anderson recorded the other RBI when he singled into left field in the seventh inning.
Freshman
Joey Olson started his first collegiate game and pitched 3.1 innings, while surrendering nine runs (4 earned) for the Knights.
Drew 11, MLC 5
The second game began with a
Mason Cox RBI double to left field that scored
Spencer Lilienthal. However, the Rangers' bats picked up where they left off in game one and posted a five-run second inning that consisted of two singles and a double.
After Drew went up 6-1, Cox found his pitch and drove the ball deep for his third home run of the season in the bottom of the third (6-2). Following Cox's solo shot, the Rangers added a little more separation and scored five more runs over the next few innings to take an 11-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh.
MLC didn't quit still, as
Parker Winghart connected on a two-run single to centerfield. Winghart would then come home off of a Rangers' error and the Knights made it 11-5, before Drew recorded the final out.
Lindemann started the game for MLC, pitching two innings on five runs allowed (3 earned).
John Westendorf came in relief for Lindemann and recorded three strikeouts in 2.2 innings of work.
Cox and Winghart finished with two RBI apiece, while Lilienthal had two base hits.
MLC (1-8) plays the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts on Friday, March 8. Game one is at 12:30 followed by a 3 p.m. game. (Times in ET)
