CCBC Essex Takes Both Games of the Doubleheader
The Lions lost both games of the double header to fellow CCBC Essex Knights 1-0 and 9-7.
Game one Nate Griffin pitched a Jacob deGrom-esque game, losing the game despite pitching all seven innings and only allowing one run on four hits and two walks while recording six strikeouts.
In the bottom of the 4th the Lions had a chance when Matt Fino led the inning off with a double. Doyle McNew was able to move him over to third with one out but the Lions were unable to score a run.
In the bottom of the 5th Ben Hall led off with a ball out to center field and made to second base. Nick White drew a walk so the Lions had two men on with no outs. Kyle Hansel bunted the men over to second and third. One out, two men in scoring position and the knights get out of it.
In the bottom of the 6th Fino led off with a single. McNew was hit by a pitch right after. So again two men on zero outs and the Knights get out of it.
The Lions had chances but could not come through
Game two had a bit more action. In the bottom of the 1st Chaney Skeans was hit by a pitch and then Jared Jackson was walked. McNew singled to score Skeans and leave Jackson on third who would score off a wild pitch. Lions lead 2-0.
In the top of the 2nd the Knights took the lead back going up 3-2 and then extended their lead in the top of the 3rd 5-2. In the bottom of the 3rd Jackson and Fino were walked again so McNew had the same situation as the first inning and McNew brought Jackson home. Jake Brack made it on by an error. Kenny Nichols then hit a double to bring McNew and Brack home. The Lions tied the game up 5-5.
In the bottom of the 4th Nick White and Kyle Hansel were both hit by a pitch. With two outs Fino hits a single to score White and give the Lions a 6-5 lead.
In the bottom of the 5th the Lions scored a run off the Knights mistakes. A hit by pitch put Shawn Sinclair on base. A pass ball followed by a wild pitch put Sinclair on third. Hansel put a ball in play and Knights made an error to score Sinclair, Lions lead 7-5.
The Lions led went in the wind as the Knights tied the game in the 8th and extended their lead in the 9th to 9-7.