COMSTOCK PARK, MI – The University of Michigan-Dearborn baseball team (8-11; 8-8) split their doubleheader with the Aquinas College Saints (21-20; 4-10) on Sunday at Lake Michigan Credit Union Ballpark, home of the Michigan Whitecaps.
Game one lived up to the anticipation of a pitcher's duel between two of the Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference's best starting pitchers in Tyler Koons (3-1) and Aquinas ace Travis Keys, reigning and two-time WHAC Pitcher of the Week. The two held both offenses off the board through the first five innings but a Max McLennan RBI single in the 6th inning would put the Wolverines on the board and prove to be all the offense that was needed for the victory. The Wolverines would tack on three runs in the 8th inning scoring on a Shaun Hannibal RBI single, bases loaded walk, and a wild pitch. Dan Bos took the mound for the last three innings and shut down the Saints offense, allowing only one hit while striking out six batters to earn his second save of the season. The combined shutout from Koons and Bos was the first shutout of the year for the Wolverines and the first since Koons' no-hitter last spring against Robert Morris. Hannibal, Shane Fugate, and Evan Morin each had multi-hit efforts in the game.
Game two went back and forth with five lead changes and three ties. Aquinas got on the board with one run in the 1st inning which held up until the Maize and Blue would finally get on the board with two runs in the 6th inning. The Saints reclaimed the lead in the 6th inning but the Wolverines answered with three runs in the 7th inning to take a 5-3 lead, thanks to a 2 RBI single by Antonio Carta and a Nathan Mack RBI single. Aquinas scored one run in the 8th inning and was down to their last out in the 9th inning trailing by one run. A bloop into centerfield which appeared to be caught by Evan Morin was ruled a single by the umpire and the runner on first base was able to score on the play to tie the game. Two batters later the Saints sealed it with an RBI single and won 6-5. Jack Hook (0-2) took the loss in relief. Carta led the offense with three hits and two RBI.
NOTE: Photo used from previous season
