Sinclair, Cuyahoga Split Four Weekend Games

By Brendan Loiacono/Sinclair Sports Information

Game 1: Cuyahoga 4 Sinclair 2

Jon Lowe led off the tartan half of the first with a line drive single to right field. AJ Kruzel then laid down a successful sacrifice bunt to move Lowe into scoring position with just one away. Sophomore Austin Downing drove in Jon Lowe with an RBI double to the gap in right centerfield to give the Pride a 1-0 lead over the Trio of C's. Cuyahoga matched Sinclair's tally by adding a run in the top of the third inning making the score 1-1. In the top of the fifth inning, Cuyahoga added three more runs bringing the score to 4-1 visitors. With one gone in the bottom of the sixth inning, Downing reached first once again on a base on balls. Sullivan also worked a one out walk as Sinclair had runners on first and second. Two batters later with two outs, Lance Straley came into to pinch hit. With a 1-1 count, Straley laced a single to left field, sending Austin Downing scampering home to cut the lead in half, 4-2 Cuyahoga going into the final frame. Sinclair could not overcome the deficit and fell to Cuyahoga in game one. Both starters went the distance in game one of Friday's double header at Gradys Field. Tyler Sexton fared better than the scoreboard would suggest as he gave up four runs, two of which were earned and struck out three batters.

LP: Tyler Sexton 7IP 6H 4R 2ER 1BB 3K's

Offensive Leaders: Austin Downing 1-1 RBI R 2BB's, Lance Straley 1-1 RBI, AJ Kruzel 1-2

Game 2: Sinclair 12 Cuyahoga 2

Southpaw Matt Kruzel was given the ball to start the nightcap of the double header against Cuyahoga. In the bottom half of the first inning, Jon Lowe tripled to right center followed by an AJ Kruzel walk. Austin Downing then lifted a Sacrifice fly to right field scoring Jon Lowe. Sullivan walked to set up a first and second opportunity for Paul Wilson who scored AJ Kruzel from second when Wilson reached on error with two away. With Tyler Raymond at the plate, Wilson took off for second base, the throw hit Wilson and caromed into the outfield as Sullivan scored and Wilson headed to third. The first offensive volley for Sinclair resulted in a 3-0 lead over Cuyahoga. Nick McGill started off the bottom of the second inning with a quick base on balls. Alex Delk singled to center as McGill sprinted to third. With men on first and third with nobody out, Jon Lowe singled over the third basemen's head, scoring McGill and sending Delk to second. After two innings, Sinclair held the lead at 4-0. Cuyahoga tacked on a run in the top of the third to cut into the Sinclair lead, 4-1. Paul Wilson walked to start the bottom of the third. Tyler Raymond executed a sacrifice bunt which moved Wilson to second. With two away, Alex Delk drew a walk. With two away and men on first and second, Jon Lowe came through yet again with a single to right, making the score 5-1 Tartans. Second and third, two away and AJ Kruzel at the plate, Sinclair added two more runs when Kruzel singled up the box scoring both Delk and Lowe making the lead 7-1. In the top of the fourth Cuyahoga added another run making the score 7-2 Sinclair. Lance Straley was hit by the pitch to start the bottom of the fourth inning. Paul Wilson showed bunt but slashed a deep fly ball to left centerfield which fell not 20 feet from the wall for a double, scoring Straley. Nick McGill singled to left to set up a first and third scoring opportunity with just one out for Alex Delk. Sinclair shocked the Tri-C defense with a double steal which scored Paul Wilson and awarded McGill second base. Delk drew a walk as did Jon Lowe. The bases were loaded and two away for the Pride of Middletown, Austin Downing. Sure enough, with a 1-1 count, Downing whacked a single up the middle of the field, bringing home two tartans. The bottom half of the fourth inning mercifully ended eventually, but not until Sinclair increased their lead over Cuyahoga to 11-2. Nick McGill wasted no time getting the offense rolling in the bottom of the sixth, stroking the first pitch to leftfield for a leadoff single. Delk grounded to third which advanced McGill to second. McGill took third on a wild pitch and scored the winning run when Jon Lowe lifted a fly ball to centerfield for a sacrifice fly. Kruzel dominated during his time on the mound surrendering two earned runs over five innings while fanning twelve. Shea came into relief for Kruzel pitching the top half of the sixth and final frame of the game, not allowing a single baserunner.

WP- Matt Kruzel 5IP 3H 2R 2ER 5BB 12K's

Offensive Leaders- Jon Lowe 3-3 2R 3RBI BB, AJ Kruzel 1-2 1R 2RBI BB, Austin Downing 1-1 3RBI BB, Paul Wilson 2-3, 2R RBI BB, Nick McGill 2-3 3R BB 

Game 3: Sinclair 4 Cuyahoga 2

There was not a cloud in the sky when Craig Koehler toed the rubber for the Tartan Pride. Sinclair donned their new grey uniforms against Cuyahoga in a Saturday double header at sunny gradys field in Xenia, Ohio. In the bottom of the third inning, Nick McGill beat out an infield single to lead off the frame. Two batters later, Alex Delk worked a one out walk to set the table for centerfielder Jonny Lowe. Lowe singled but McGill was gunned down at home plate by the Tri-C right fielder for the second out. AJ Kruzel then walked to load the bases for Austin Downing, who singled in Delk to take a 1-0 lead. Matt Sullivan followed by tripling to right field, clearing the bases and adding three more runs to the lead 4-0. Cuyahoga's bats came alive in the sixth when they plated two runs and ending Koehler's time on the mound with the score still in Sinclair's favor 4-2. Koehler was dominate in game one of Saturdays double header, pitching five and two thirds innings surrendering two earned runs while striking out six. Stephen Holland made an appearance on the mound when Koehler was lifted. Holland recorded the last 4 outs of the game holding the Tri-C offense in check and earned the save for the Pride.

WP: Craig Koehler (3-1) 5.2IP 4H 2R 2ER 1BB 6K's

SV: Stephen Holland 1.1 IP, 2K'S

Offensive Leaders- Austin Downing 1-3 R RBI, Matt Sullivan 1-3 3B 3RBI, Nick McGill 2-3

Game 4: Cuyahoga 9 Sinclair 5

Game two of Saturday's double header was a mutual stalemate until Cuyahoga put a run on the board in their half of the second frame and took a 1-0 lead. Cuyahoga then added 3 more runs in the top of the third to make the score 4-0. The deficit that Sinclair faced grew even larger in the fourth as Cuyahoga added three more runs bringing the score to 7-0. AJ Kruzel kicked off the bottom of the fourth inning with a flare single to shallow left field. Third basemen Austin Downing then singled over the shortstop's head to set up a first and second opportunity for sophomore Matt Sullivan and nobody out. Sullivan loaded the bases with an infield single and Lance Straley followed that up with a fielder's choice to score the first run of the game for Sinclair. Paul Wilson also reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second as Sullivan scored during McGill's at bat when a passed ball got by the Tri-C catcher. McGill ended up singling to left field advancing Wilson to third. With two away and runners at the corners, Tyler Raymond smokes a line drive to left field for a single scoring Wilson. With runners at second and third, Delk reaches on error which scored McGill. Lowe joined the hit parade with a single to right, plating Raymond, making it a 7-5 contest in favor of Cuyahoga. Runs seemed to be in great supply as Cuyahoga added two more runs in the top of the seventh inning, making the lead even bigger 9-5 going into the last half of the frame. The five run outburst in the fourth inning proved to be all the Pride bats could conjure as they fell to Cuyahoga in the nightcap. Pena was on the mound to start game two for the pride, but struggled only lasting two and a third innings and surrendered four runs, two of which were earned and walked three. Although he struck out five batters, Scott Haag did not fare very well either when he came into relief of Pena, going three and two thirds frames allowing four runs, all of which were earned, to cross home. Freshman Nathan Helke finished off the game for Sinclair, pitching one inning and giving up an unearned run.

LP: Carlos Pena (1-3) 2.1IP 4H 4R 2ER 3BB 1K

Offensive Leaders: Austin Downing 2-4, Lance Straley 1-3 RBI, Tyler Raymond 1-3 R RBI