ARLINGTON, Va. – The Neumann University Baseball team had an up-and-down evening at Marymount University as they split an Atlantic East Conference doubleheader, falling in game one, 11-3, before taking the nightcap, 3-1.
In the first inning of game one, Marymount picked up runs on a wild pitch and an error. In the following inning, they plated one with a sacrifice fly for a 3-0 lead. After a scoreless third, the Saints broke the game open with five run-scoring singles and a sacrifice fly leading to seven runs and a lead of 10. They added one more run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly.
After a scoreless sixth, Neumann tried to claw back into the game in the seventh. With one out,
Jackson Armiger singled to center and moved to third when
Yoan Feliz doubled.
Brody Foltz drove in the Knights' first run on a sacrifice fly to plate Armiger.
Donovan Brooks followed with a base hit to score Feliz. He quickly stole second, and when he stole third, the throw was errant allowing him to score, but the rally stalled there.
Jack Holladay suffered the loss on the mound to drop to 0-1. He went the first three innings and allowed three runs on two hits and four walks while striking out one.
Game two started with a scoreless first and
Andrew Brown walked on four pitches to lead off the second.
JerVal Shuler followed with a base hit to center, and
Tyler Kilmer was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Armiger followed with a walk of his own to drive in the game's first run. Feliz would then ground out to plate Shuler. Two batters later, Brooks singled to left to bring in Kilmer for a 3-0 lead.
Both teams pitching stepped up from there as neither could muster any offense until the sixth when Marymount scored a run on a bases-loaded walk. Although the Saints were able to load the bases in the ninth, putting the tying run in scoring position, and the winning run on base,
Alex Gambol locked down the save.
Josh Lillis picked up the win to improve his personal record to 2-1. In five innings of shutout ball, he allowed six hits, no walks, and struck out eight.
Rey Carrier went a solid 1.2 innings as he gave up a run on one hit and three walks, striking out one. Gambol earned his first save with 2.1 scoreless innings on one hit, three walks, and three strikeouts.
Armiger went 2 for 5 in the doubleheader with a walk, a hit by pitch, a run batted in, and a run scored. Felix was 2 for 7 with a double, an RBI, and a run.
Neumann (11-6-1, 5-3 Atlantic East) and Marymount will play the rubber game of their Atlantic East Conference series on Tuesday afternoon. First pitch from Bruder Field is scheduled for 3:30 PM.
