Racers and Saints Split Two in Adrian

ADRIAN, MI - Siena Heights (1-1, 4-10) took the conference opener 4-2, but UNOH (1-1, 4-10) rebounded with a 9-4 win in game two.

Game 1: SHU 4 UNOH 2 (7 Innings)

It was a low-scoring affair through five innings with the Saints scoring one in the third and one in the fifth. A lead-off walk opened the sixth for UNOH and Josue Ortiz followed with a double to score the Racers' first run of the game. Alex Velasco brought in the second with a RBI single to right field. After keeping Siena Heights off the board in the bottom, UNOH threatened again in the seventh but saw the inning end when Tim Hanible got caught stealing third. The Saints managed to get a runner on board with two outs their next time up and finished the job with a pinch hit walk off homer.

Ortiz and Velasco recorded the only two RBI for the Racers and combined for two of the team's three hits in the game.

Rolando Heredia-Bustos started and went four innings giving one run off six hits with six strikeouts and two walks. AJ Buchman pitched one inning in relief giving up one run off two hits with two strikeouts. Jeremy Yurcak (0-4) tossed the final inning and two-thirds giving up the final two runs to take the loss with three hits and one walk. 

Game 2: UNOH 9 SHU 4

Despite a scare in the home first, the two teams combined for just one hit to open game two. The Racers went down in order in the second and the Saints took advantage with three runs in the bottom of the inning. A walk, a single and a double got UNOH on the board in the top of the third. Lincoln Hackim and Josue Ortiz each brought in one in the frame to tie the game at 3-3. Alex Velasco gave the Racers their first lead of the day in the top of the fourth but Siena Heights answered with one of their own in the bottom.

Twelve of the next 13 batters were put away in order and the game stayed tied headed into the seventh. Ben Jackson cracked his second home run of the season in the seventh that scored two. Darius Freeman followed with his first career triple, and the team's second of the season, to put the Racers up 7-4. The game was hitless over the next inning and a half as the game entered the ninth. Josue Ortiz got UNOH going with two outs before back-to-back doubles by Darius Freeman and Eliomar Otero gave the Racers a 9-4 lead. The Saints hit a lead-off single, but UNOH took care of the next three batters to pick up the win.

Josue Ortiz put together his first three-hit game of the season. Ortiz finished 3-5 with one RBI in the game. Darius Freeman went 2-2 with two RBI and Tyler Grigalis was 2-2 with one RBI. Eliomar Otero and Nolan Hull each went 2-5 and Ben Jackson added two RBI.

Walter long got the start and went three innings with three runs off three hits with four strikeouts and three walks. Sinjon Bobolia (1-1) earned his first career win with four innings of relief work. Bobolia gave up one run off just two hits while striking out six. Eliott Traver picked up his first career save after pitching the final two innings with just one hit given up while striking out two.

UNOH has a quick turnaround and will host Lourdes in their home opener Tuesday, March 21, with a game one first pitch scheduled for 12:00 PM.