The Cedarville baseball team’s rally came up short, as it lost a close game to the Harriers of Miami-Hamilton University by a score of 4-3.
Miami-Hamilton, a member of the Ohio Regional Campus Conference, came into the game boasting a 22-7 record.
The starting pitchers for both teams produced good outings. Eric Handleman of the Harriers pitched seven innings striking out five for his second win of the season. Cedarville freshman pitcher Josh Kneeland also pitched well, striking out six batters in five innings of work. The only run he allowed came on a passed ball in the first inning.
Cedarville got on the board in the second inning as Zach Huskey sent catcher Joey Chapman home on an infield single. Chapman, a freshman catcher, filled in for regular Jaden Cleland and had a nice outing against the Harriers. Unfortunately, the Cedarville bats went silent until the bottom of the eighth inning.
Up 4-1, Miami Hamilton walked hard-hitting left fielder David Lenhardt to bring up Jackets shortstop Sam Summerlin. Summerlin was hit by a pitch, then he and Lenhardt moved up to second and third on a wild pitch.
Things heated up as the Jackets tried to level the score. Drew Johnson was able to hit the ball hard enough to shortstop for Lenhardt to score from third and advance Summerlin, making the score 4-2. Then Summerlin raced home on another wild pitch, cutting the lead to one.
A pair of groundouts ended the Jackets’ rally in the eighth. Down 4-3 in the ninth with one out, Cleland stepping to the plate and singled and Zack Huskey drew a walk, setting up the Jackets for a walk-off win.
Unfortunately, Cedarville’s Colton Potter hit into a double play to end the game.
Miami Hamilton moved to 23-7 on the year while the Yellow Jackets sit at 15-14, 8-4 in the G-MAC.
Friday’s home game starts at noon against Alderson Broaddus and is projected to have beautiful weather, 70 degrees and sunny.
Dave Guidone is a junior social studies education major and sports reporter for Cedars. His hobbies include eating, snacking, shooting hoops and laughing. Hebrews 13:8.
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