Baseball: Bison Split First Doubleheader After Spring Break

BETHANY W.Va.-  The Bison hosted their first games back from their spring break trip against Pitt-Greensburg. Bethany edged out a win in game one, but was unable to complete the sweep. They split the doubleheader with the Bobcats 1-1.

THE BASICS

Game One: Bethany 5, Pitt-Greensburg 4

Game Two: Pitt Greensburg 12, Bethany 2 

Records:

• Pitt-Greensburg (2-9)

• Bethany (3-8)  

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Game one saw all the action happen in the middle innings. Offenses were silent until the bottom of the third inning when Bethany was able to push a run across the plate. Mike Hines was hit by a pitch with one out. A pair of infield singles followed by a Josh Speaker sac fly was able to get the speedy right fielder home. 

• It didn't take long for the Bobcats to answer back. Colin Solinski found a breaking ball hanging up in the zone and launched it over the fence to tie the game at one.

• The Bison's starter Trey Mantle only allowed a lone single up to that point. He didn't get rattled, quickly getting out of the inning. He had a quality start only allowing two earned runs through five and two-thirds innings.

• The bottom of the fourth saw the Bison manufacture the rest of their runs. Tyler McKee had an opportunity with two runners in scoring position and one out. He lifted a sac fly into center. Hines added to his stat line with an RBI single. Derek Black put on a three-hit performance; his RBI being from a single in this string of Bison runs. Then Nick Roell, who walked and stretched his way over to third on Black's single, managed to sneak home on an infield error to give the Bison a 5-1 lead.

• Errors almost cost the Bison as they gave up three runs in the top of the fifth. JT Hubert came in relief to save the game. He worked out of a two out jam to hold the lead. Hubert proceeded to throw two more scoreless innings to lock in a save and a Bison victory.

• The second game of the day was less favorable for Bethany. Mistakes in the field put the Bison in tough positions with the bases filled and the outs on the scoreboard vacant. The Bobcats were always making solid contact on the baseball, putting up 11 hits and scoring 10 runs in the first three innings.

• A bright spot in the second game was Sonny Peluchette's performance in the field and at the plate. The third baseman made some nice backhanded grabs and knocked in the only two runs Bethany had. One of those runs came on a deep solo shot to left.

• Bethany splits this home double-header against Pitt-Greensburg with the final score of the second game being 12-2 in the Bobcats' favor.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• GAME ONE

  • Black finished the game 3-4 with three singles and an RBI

  • Mike Hines went 2-2 with two runs, an RBI, and a HBP

  • Izek Baldwin had the only XBH for the Bison. He went 2-3 with a run he scored after hitting a double.

  • Mantle gets his second win while Hubert gets his second save. 

• GAME TWO

  • Peluchetti finished the game 2-2 with a solo home run and a sacrifice fly.

  • Peyton Hildebrand had the best outing in game two. He came in relief to throw three and two-thirds innings giving up two runs and striking out three. 

WHATS NEXT
The Bison will travel to Beaver Park to take on Penn State- Beaver. A doubleheader will be played on Tuesday, March 19th. First pitch is set to be at 2PM.