Auburndale, FL - The Martin Luther College Knights won both of their doubleheader games on Friday, March 8, against the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. The Knights trailed late in both contests, but managed to comeback due to their persistent hitting at the plate up and down the lineup. In game one, MLC won
12-7 in extra innings, after being behind 6-3 heading into the top of the seventh. In game two, MLC was down once again 6-3 going into the bottom of the sixth inning, but rallied together four runs in the frame to win
7-6 and walked away with the sweep.
MLC 12, MCLA 7 (8 Innings)
MLC scored first on a wild pitch that was thrown by the Blazers' starting pitcher, Rob Correia.
Spencer Lilienthal got the nod for game one and did a nice job of getting out of the bottom of the second without any further damage than just the one run.
Jackson Lindemann threw out an MCLA baserunner heading home, that also saw a solid tag applied by
Mark Vogel.
The left side of the MLC infield continued its stellar glove work and helped Lilienthal keep the score tied up at 1-1 through three innings.
Both teams scored a couple of runs in the fourth inning and MLC benefited from a
Parker Winghart triple that was sliced into right centerfield. Lindemann then drove Winghart home with a sacrifice fly to centerfield. Meanwhile, Josh Bologh hit a two-run homer for the Blazers' cause.
Bologh came through in a big way in the bottom of the sixth, as he rounded the bases again for his second home run of the afternoon. MCLA would then score another two runs to hold the 6-3 lead.
The Knights' three-run sixth inning came from the top of the order, as
Mason Cox brought in Lilienthal with a liner to centerfield. Winghart found the same recipe up the middle and tied the game up again with a two-run double (6-6).
MLC used
Connor Heckendorf to send the Knights into extra innings and the freshman did his part in the seventh and eight inning respectively to record his first collegiate win. The Knights firmly closed things out with a six-run top of the eighth inning. Lilienthal started things off with an RBI single and
Alex Ritter and Cox added insurance runs to create more separation.
In the win, MLC outhit the Blazers 16-7 as a team and were led by Cox who went 3-for-5 at the plate with three runs and RBI. Winghart went 3-for-4 with (3 RBI and runs scored).
MLC 7, MCLA 6
In game two, the offense picked up where it left off when Lilienthal led off with a thunderous triple to left center field to pump up the MLC crowd in attendance. Lilienthal made his way home on the next at bat off of a wild pitch from MCLA pitcher Aiden Brett.
The Blazers evened up the score 1-1 in the top of the second when Brady Hamel singled to left field off of MLC pitcher
Carter Seltz. The Knights got a good outing from Seltz, with the junior fanning six MCLA batters in 5.1 innings.
Lindemann would break the tie in the bottom of the fourth frame when he dropped a single into shallow centerfield to manufacture a run for MLC (2-1).
Jackson Anderson gave the Knights a little more support with an RBI single to make it 3-1.
The game would be evened up again in the next half inning, after the Blazers posted a two-run fifth inning. MCLA followed that up with three runs in the top of the sixth to go up 6-3.
Anderson continued his nice approach at the plate and doubled into left field, scoring two runs for MLC to pull them closer (6-5).
A Vogel groundout then ultimately decided the game, as
Jordan Ramirez and Anderson came around to score after an overthrow by the MCLA first baseman.
The win would be credited to
Caleb Heckednorf, who came in the game in relief of Seltz.
Connor Heckendorf was given the save, as the freshman closed out the game in the top of the seventh frame.
Cox had another three-hit game, while Anderson notched three RBI to lead MLC in the game.
Caleb Heckendorf had a two hit game in addition to his win on the mound.
MLC goes to 3-8 on the season after the sweep and will finish out the RussMat Invitational on Saturday, March 9. The Knights will play Curry College at 1 and 3:30 p.m.
