ALFRED, N.Y. - Hilbert College was able to get an important AMCC doubleheader in the books today when they battled league-leaders Alfred State College.
After going long twice today,
Thomas Evans became the Hilbert Baseball All-Time Home Run Leader as the Hawks split their series with the Pioneers (19-12, 7-1 AMCC).
The Hawks (18-14, 5-5 AMCC) gave Alfred State their first blemish in conference action taking the first game 3-0, and Alfred State outlasted Hilbert, pulling away late in the 9-4 night-cap win.
Thomas Evans timely long hit in the 5th inning and impressive pitching by
Brennen Hediger and another save by
Brendan Walsh helped lift the Hawks to their first shut-out victory this season.
Game 1:
- It was a pitchers duel, won by the Hawks. Evans' two-run homer in the top of the 5th broke open the game. Hilbert tacked on another run in the 7th when Sebastian Gomez single knocked in Evans for the win.
Evans and
Jack Duffek each earned two hits and
Alex Ellison recorded one stolen base.
Brennen Hediger faced 21 batters and limited the Pioneers to a season-low two hits through six innings before Walsh entered the game in the 7th. He faced four batters leading to his ninth save in his junior campaign.
Game 2:
- Trailing by five runs, Evans poked his second home run of the day in the top of the 6th inning to get the Hawks on the board.
- Hilbert manufactured three runs off three hits in the top of the 7th to pull within one run. Gomez singled and Jack Duffek reached on an infield error which forced the first pitcher change of the game for A-State. Alex Ellison hit an RBI single to plate Gomez and Benjamin Ratajczak sacrificed to the pitcher to move the baserunners. Emmanuel McClain singled to center and scored Duffek which led to another pitcher change from the hosts. Jairo Santos also sacrificed to the mound knocking in Ellison which completed the mini rally.
- The Pioneers got the best of the Hawks in the bottom of the 7th and 8th when they stacked four runs together for the 9-4 win.
Hilbert was held to five hits in the night cap with five different Hawks making contact. McClain, Evans, Ellison and Santos recorded the four RBIs.
Andrew Cole allowed five runs, six hits and struck out two in the loss.
Up Next:
Hilbert (18-14) returns to AMCC action this Friday when they host Penn State Altoona in another AMCC doubleheader at 1pm April 21st on the FSSJ Complex baseball diamond.