Bobcats win 2 more, move to 11-5
The Bobcats were in action against Lakeland once again today in a non conference doubleheader in which they won the first game 6-1 and the second game 7-4. Christian Boyles had 3 hits including his 4th home run, Logan Wunderle had 2 hits including his 3rd home run, Dominic Daring had 2 doubles, John Costella had 2 hits including a double, Tylor Wolfe had 2 hits including a triple, Bryce Daniels had 2 hits, and Kenny Nickson had 2 hits.
Game 1
OCCAC player of the week Christian Boyles started the Bobcat day with a bang as he hit a screaming line drive off the centerfield wall that gave him enough time to touch em' all for his second inside the park homerun of the season. Dominic Daring would drive in Logan Wunderle with a double a few batters later and then score on a pair of pass balls. Bobcats lead 3-0 after the first. Daring would start the third with another double, this one off the wall in left, to get the Bobcats rolling again. He would later score on a throwing error to make the Bobcat lead 4-0 going into the 4th. Bobcat starter Koby Zupko would cruise through 4 innings in his first start of the season. The hard throwing right hander fired 34 of 52 pitches for strikes and didn't allow a runner past first base as he worked 4 shutout innings allowing 2 hits while striking out 7 without walking a batter. The Lakers would score their only run of the game in the top of the 5th when Ben Steritt lifted CJ Kross's two strike pitch over the head of Bobcat centerfield Bryce Daniels for a lead off triple. Steritt would score on Caleb Peck's sacrifice fly later that inning. The Bobcats would get that run back rather quickly as Logan Wunderle would hit the first pitch of the bottom of the 5th high over the trees in left for a solo homerun, his third of the season, to make the score 5-1 Bobcats. Kross would work a clean 6th retiring 6 of the 8 Lakers he faced striking out 2 in the 2 innings he worked out of the Bobcat bullpen. Christian Boyles would single with two outs in the bottom of the 6th to drive in Jackson Homage to give the Bobcats a 6-1 lead going into the 7th. Jacob Shaw would come out of the bullpen to work a worry free 7th inning recording 1 strikeout to end the game with the Bobcats on top 6-1.
Game 2
The Bobcats would play from ahead again in game 2 as two out base hits by John Costella, Tylor Wolfe, and Torrey Roper would score one and set the table for a Dylan Cutler 2 RBI double. The Bobcats once again lead 3-0 after the first inning. Dustyn Lucas would get the start in game 2 and work around a little traffic on the bases to throw 3 scoreless while striking out two. The Bobcats would tack on another in the 4th when Tylor Wolfe tripled off the wall in right center and later scored on a Torrey Roper sacrifice fly to make the lead 4-0. Lucas would get in a little trouble in the 4th as the Lakers would take advantage of a few free base runners and a pair of singles to score their first run. A pair of walks out of the Bobcat pen would score two more for the Lakers before Kade Compeau would enter the game and work out of the bases loaded jam inducing a pop out and a routine double play on just 4 pitches to end the scoring threat and keep the Bobcats on top 4-3. A pair of singles and some defensive miscues from Lakeland would put Nick Heilman and Bryce Daniels on the bases for the top of the Bobcat line up. Boyles would drive in Heilman, and a Wunderle single would score Daniels to make the Bobcat lead 6-3 at the end of the 4th. Compeau would work the 5th and 6th surrendering 1 earned on 2 hits and a walk while striking out 1. A Justin Witherspoon homerun, his first of the year, would give the Bobcats a little more breathing room in the 6th. Jacob Shaw would come out of the pen to work the 7th for the Bobcats for the second time today and set the Lakers down in order in 8 pitches to secure his first save of the year, Bobcats win 7-4.
This pair of wins moves their record to 11-5 on the season. They are back at Owens for an OCCAC matchup with the NJCAA ranked Express tomorrow at 1 and 3.