BUFFALO N.Y. – Hilbert College Baseball hosted Mount Aloysius this afternoon for a crucial doubleheader between the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference's top two teams. Hilbert won game one to tie the Mounties atop the standings, but a game two win gave Mount Aloysius the split and sole possession of first place in the conference.
After the Mounties led for most of game one, a three-run home run by
Nolan Evans tied it up late, and
Jack Duffek gave the Hawks the win with a walk-off in the bottom of the ninth.
Hilbert scored a pair of runs in the fourth to take the lead in a tightly contested game two, but four seventh inning runs gave Mount Aloysius the late come back and the victory.
Game 1:
Both offenses were firing early, with five total runs scored in the first inning. Mount Aloysius jumped out to a quick three run lead in the top of the frame on a three-run home run, but the Hawks scored a pair in the bottom half to make it 3-2. A
Nolan Evans double, and a
Patrick Whelan single scored the runs for Hilbert.
After the high scoring first inning, both starting pitchers settled in and pitched four straight scoreless innings. Hilbert starter
Dylan Moorhouse struck out four batters in this span to keep the Hawks in the game.
The scoring drought came to an end in the top of the sixth with a pair of Mount Aloysius runs to make it a 5-2 game.
In their last chance to extend the game, Hilbert got three runs in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to extra innings.
Griffin McAndrews and
Alex Ellison led off the inning with singles, and
Nolan Evans continued his red hot hitting with his third home run in four games to tie the contest at five all.
Brendan Walsh and
David Alessi kept the Mounties off the board in extra innings, pitching one inning each. After failing to get much going in the bottom of the eighth, the Hilbert offense ended the game in the bottom of the ninth.
Singles from
John Riviere-Vejas and
Nolan Evans, and an intentional walk of
Patrick Whelan loaded the bases for
Jack Duffek needing one run for the win. Duffek singled to score Riviere-Vejas and give Hilbert the 6-5 win, their sixth straight.
BY THE NUMBERS:
- Nolan Evans had a massive day at the plate, going 3-5 with two runs, four RBIs, a double and a home run.
- Moorhouse gave the Hawks another solid outing going seven innings allowing three earned runs while striking out seven.
- With two runs scored, John Riviere-Vejas became the program's all-time leader in runs scored.
Game 2:
Game two started off just like game one, with the Mounties scoring in the top of the first, and the Hawks answering to cut the lead to one in the bottom half of the inning.
Nolan Evans' sacrifice fly that scored
John Riviere-Vejas made it a 2-1 game after one.
The game's next runs belonged to Hilbert as two runs in the bottom of the fourth made it a 3-2 game in favor of the Hawks.
Jairo Santos' single scored
Patrick Whelan to tie it, and
Billy LoBello's double brought home Santos for the lead.
Spencer Harford cruised through the Mount Aloysius lineup after the two-run first inning, throwing five consecutive scoreless innings. However, the Mounties got the bats going in their last trip up in the top of the seventh, scoring four runs to take a 6-3 lead.
The Hawks could not replicate the late-game magic in game two as Mount Aloysius took this one 6-3 to regain first place in the AMCC.
BY THE NUMBERS:
- Riviere-Vejas (2-4, 1 R) and LoBello (2-3, 1 RBI, 1 2B) each recorded multiple hits for the Hawks.
- Harford struck out seven Mounties in 6.1 innings of work.
Up Next:
The Hawks will head to Fredonia on Monday, April 22nd for a nonconference doubleheader with the Blue Devils. First pitch of game one is set for 2 pm at Ludwig Field.
