Baseball | 3/22/2018 6:28:00 PM
Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
St. Louis, Mo. – This afternoon the Columbia College baseball team was back in action when they traveled to St. Louis, Missouri, to take on the Missouri Baptist University Spartans in the AMC Baseball Games of the Week. The Cougars, who are receiving votes in the latest NAIA Baseball Coaches' Top 25 Poll, were swept in the doubleheader by the Spartans and fell to 18-8 on the season and 5-6 in conference play.
In the first game against the Spartans, the Cougars put together five hits in the 7-6 loss. Columbia College got off to a fast start in the game as they rallied for two runs in the top of the first to take an early lead. The Spartans answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the second to cut the Cougars lead in half and then rallied for two runs in the bottom of the fourth and a run in the bottom of the fifth to take a 4-2 lead in the ballgame. Columbia College was able to tie the game at four in the top of the sixth but a three run rally form the Spartans in the bottom half of the inning gave them a 7-4 lead heading into the final inning. The Cougars did all they could to get back into the game and were able to add two final runs in the top of the seventh to cut into the Spartans lead but that was as close as they would get as Missouri Baptist closed them out down the stretch to take the first game of the doubleheader.
Jeremy Rettig (3-1) got the start in this one as he allowed three hits and an earned run while striking out two batters in 3.0 innings of work. Derek Sallee (1-3) and Craig Smith (2-1) came into relieve Rettig as the two combined to allow four hits and four earned runs while striking out one batter in the final three innings of the game. Offensively, Blade McKee went 2-4 with two runs scored, Justin Randle went 1-3 with two RBI's and Ethan Howser had an RBI to round out the top performers for Columbia.
In the second game, the Cougars put together six hits in a 4-1 loss. The Spartans got on the board first in this one as they were able to bring a run across in the bottom of the second inning to take an early 1-0 lead. Columbia College responded with a run of their own in the top of the third to tie the game at one but a second run from the Spartans in the bottom of the fourth gave them a 2-1 lead. Neither side was able to get anything going over the next few innings but a two run rally from Missouri Baptist in the seventh inning solidified the two game sweep.
Chris Wall (1-1) got the start in this one allowing four hits and two earned runs while striking out five in 3.2 innings on the mound. Cody Ebert (4-1) and J.W. McGraw (3-0) came into relieve Wall as the two combined to allow five hits and two earned runs in the final 4.1 innings of the game. Jordan Wright led the way offensively for the Cougars as he had the only RBI of the game. In addition to Wright, Jacob Litteken went 2-3 with a run scored and Blade McKee went 2-3.
The baseball team is back in action tomorrow, March 23rd when they take on the Spartans in the final game of the three game series. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. in St. Louis.
