Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia College baseball team was back in action this afternoon when they played host to the Trinity Christian (Ill.) College Trolls in a nonconference doubleheader. The Cougars were able to sweep the Trolls in both games of the doubleheader taking the first game by a final score of 8-5 and the second game by a final score of 9-4 to improve to 11-4 on the season.
In the first game of the doubleheader, the Cougars were able to put together nine hits in the win. The Trolls got off to a quick start in this one as they rallied for four runs in the top of the second to take a 4-0 lead. Columbia College answered with a run in the bottom of the second to cut the lead to 4-1, but another run from the Trolls in the top of the fifth lifted them to a 5-1 lead heading into the bottom half of the inning. Despite being down, the Cougars continued to battle and were able to score four runs in the fifth and three runs in the sixth to solidify their 10th win of the season.
Dakota Stone (1-1) was the starting pitcher in this one allowing nine hits and five earned runs while striking out two batters in 4.2 innings of work. Derek Sallee (1-1) came in to relieve Stone in the fifth allowing just two hits while striking out two batters in the final 2.1 innings of the game. Offensively, Blade McKee went 2-4 with two runs scored, Justin Randle went 1-3 with two RBI's, and Tanner Allen went 1-4 with an RBI to round out the top performers for Columbia.
In the second game of the doubleheader, the Cougars rallied for 10 hits in the 9-4 victory. They got on the board early in the game rallying for three runs in the bottom of the first to take a 3-0 lead. They were able to add another run in the bottom of the third to increase their lead to 4-0, but a run from the Trolls in the top of the fourth cut the Cougars lead to 4-1 heading into the bottom half of the inning. Columbia College answered with another three run rally in the bottom of the fourth to increase their lead to 7-1 but the Trolls were able to answer with a three run rally of their own in the top of the fifth to cut the lead to 7-4. The Cougars added two insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth and then closed out the Trolls down the stretch to complete the two game sweep.
Jeremy Rettig (3-1) was on the mound in this one allowing five hits and four earned runs while striking out six batters in 4.2 innings of work. Lane Threlkeld (0-0), Craig Smith (1-0), and Jacob Ford (0-0) came into relieve Rettig combining to allow just one hit while striking out three batters in the final 2.1 innings of the game. Andrew Warner led the way for Columbia in this one as he went 2-3, including a solo homerun (4), with three RBI's and a run scored. In addition to Warner, Blade McKee went 2-4 with two RBI's, Ward Mershon went 2-2 with two runs scored, and Alex Del Rio went 1-4 with an RBI.
The baseball team is back in action tomorrow, March 3rd when they host the Trolls for the final two games of the four game series. The first game of the doubleheader is set to start at 12 p.m. with the second game to follow at Atkins Park.
