Racers Survive with Pair of 5-4 Wins Over Madonna

LIMA, OH - UNOH (19-12, 15-3) held onto their half-game lead in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference picking up two 5-4 wins over Madonna (19-14, 13-6) on Saturday, April 15, at Racer Field.

Game 1: UNOH 5 Madonna 4 (8 Innings)

 Diego Clariot put the Racers on the board first with an RBI two-out double in bottom of the first. UNOH held Madonna hitless through two and a half and added a second in the home third. Again it was Clariot with two outs with a shot to the left center gap that scored Eliomar Otero. A couple singles and a couple ground outs got the Crusaders their first run in the fourth before adding a second to tie the game in the fifth. Madonna kept the offense rolling in the sixth stringing together two singles and a double that put them up 4-2 heading into the final schedule inning. After retiring the side in the top, UNOH was down to three outs to save the game. With two outs, Darius Freeman got aboard with a gap single and once more Diego Clariot delivered doubling to right to cut the lead to one. Nathan Alvarez only had one official at bat in the game, but it turned out to be the biggest bringing in the tying run to force extra innings. The Racers worked around a walk and an error that put two runners on in the top of the eighth giving themselves a chance to complete the rally. With a runner on second, Eliomar Otero played hero crushing the ball to left field to walk off in eight.

 Diego Clariot set a new career benchmark going 3-4 at the plate with three RBI, also a career best. Eliomar Otero was 2-5 with an RBI while Nathan Alvarez finished 1-1 with an RBI.

 Rolando Heredia-Bustos got the start but was forced out in the fifth. He finished with five a third innings of work giving up four runs off six hits with no walks and no strikeouts. Nick Johnson Jeremy Yurcak and Elliott Traver combined for two innings of relief giving up just one hit with one walk and one strikeout. Nick Soller (1-1) picked up his first win after getting the final two outs of the eighth.

Game 2: UNOH 5 Madonna 4 (7 Innings)

The first run of game two was a solo homer for Madonna in the second. The two teams sprinkled in a few hits over the next inning and a half but it was the Crusaders striking again with two in the fourth. After Josue Ortiz was hit by a pitch to start the bottom, Seth Freeman sent a no-doubter over the left field fence and the Racers were on the board. The next two batters recorded outs but a walk, a single, and a stolen base put two runners in scoring position with two outs. Eliomar Otero answered the call putting the ball down the right field line scoring both and putting UNOH up 4-3 after four. The Crusaders when away in order for the first time to start the fifth and the Racers added an insurance run in the bottom of the inning. Madonna managed to get one run back in the seventh with two outs fell short giving UNOH the two-game sweep.

 Eliomar Otero and Tyler Grigalis were each 2-4 in the game. Otero and Seth Freeman each had two RBI and Nathan Alvarez finished 2-3 with one.

Walter Long pitched three and two-thirds innings off the start giving up three runs and six hits while striking out two and walking one. Jack Olberding (2-0) tossed two and a third for the win with no runs, no hits, one walk and two strikeouts. Jeremy Yurcak got the first two outs of the seventh before Eliott Traver picked up the final out for his fifth save of the season.

 Due to weather, Sunday's two-game outing against UM-Dearborn will be played Tuesday, April 18, at Ray Fisher Stadium in Ann Arbor.