Baseball ran into a hot St. Ambrose University team as they hosted a four-game series on Sunday and Monday with the Fighting Bees.
In three of the four games, St. Ambrose benefited from a big inning offensively as they earned the sweep over the Ravens. On Sunday, St. Ambrose scored 6 runs in the seventh to earn a 14-8 win in game one. In game two it was a 5-run sixth inning that led to an 8-4 win. On Monday, an 8-run fourth inning broke the game open as St. Ambrose won 14-5. In the series finale, the Ravens got two 3-run innings and looked headed toward a series finale win before St. Ambrose used a pair of solo home runs in the seventh to earn a 7-6 win to take the series.
Game 1: St. Ambrose 14, Benedictine 8
Trailing 8-3, the Ravens rallied to score four runs in the sixth inning cutting their deficit down to 8-7 headed to the seventh. The Fighting Bees scored six runs off one hit in the seventh to pull away for the win.
Ian O'Malley suffered the loss on the hill for the Ravens. He threw three and two-thirds, giving up six runs off seven hits. At the plate, the Ravens finished with 13 hits as they outhit the Fighting Bees by two. Benedictine finished with four extra-base hits as Drew Piontek connected on a home run, Hunter Moffet added a triple and double with Jackson Doherty added a double. Jacob Pavlyak went 3 for 4 while Piontek and Moffett finished with two RBI each. Doherty, Pavlyak, and Miles Holmquist added an RBI each.
Game 2: St. Ambrose 8, Benedictine 4
Andrew Baier held the Fighting Bees in check on the hill in game two. He limited St. Ambrose to just one run off three hits through five innings before the Fighting Bees were able to get to him in the sixth. He was relieved after five and two-thirds, giving up six runs off eight hits with five strikeouts.
Of the Ravens six hits, O'Malley recorded a home run while Pavlyak added a double. O'Malley and Jack Harpole finished with two hits each as Doherty, Pavlyak, Piontek, and O'Malley drove in a run each.
Game 3: St. Ambrose 14, Benedictine 5
Leading 5-0 headed to the fourth inning, the Ravens allowed 8 runs to cross as St. Ambrose took over the lead and finished the game scoring 14 unanswered.
Nelson Klein earned the start on the hill for the Ravens. He went three innings, pitching into the fourth to suffer the loss. He finished with three strikeouts while giving up five earned runs off seven hits. Danny Favazza returned to the lineup and connected on his first home run of the season, a leadoff blast in the bottom of the first. Moffet added a three-run home run in the first as well. Pavlyak finished with a triple as he was the Raven with two hits while Moffet was credited with four of the Ravens five RBI.
Game 4: St. Ambrose 7, Benedictine 6
Trailing 4-0, Moffet and Piontek combined for three RBI in the third inning to get Benedictine back in the game. Doherty connected on a 3-run home run in the sixth to give the Ravens a 6-5 lead setting up the seventh inning.
Cole Voss got the start on the hill and picked up the no-decision, throwing the first three innings. Luke Schmedding suffered the loss, throwing the final inning and a third and giving up the two seventh-inning home runs. Harpole and Doherty were the only Ravens to record an extra-base hit as Harpole finished with a double. Piontek finished with two RBI to go with Doherty's three to round out the Ravens offensive efforts.
Benedictine remains at home on Friday and Sunday. They are scheduled to host a doubleheader at Noon on Friday with Dordt and then a second doubleheader on Sunday against York.
