Raven Baseball won a weather-shortened series over Waldorf University on Laughlin Field at Olsen Stadium over the weekend.
On Saturday, the two teams split their doubleheader. Waldorf took the series opener, 5-3, before Benedictine won 15-14 in game two. On Sunday, the Ravens won game three of the series 9-8 before a wintery mix of weather forced the suspension of the series finale tied at 1-1. By Sunday night, the decision was made to completely call of the series finale, handing the Ravens a 2-1 series win over the Warriors.
Game 1: Waldorf 5, Benedictine 3
Up 2-1 through four innings, the Ravens allowed three runs in the fifth and could only plate one more run in their two-run loss. Ian O'Malley suffered the loss on the hill for the Ravens pitching into the fifth. He was credited with allowing three earned runs off seven hits with four strikeouts in the loss.
O'Malley and Hunter Moffet were the only Ravens with a multi-hit game. Moffet went 2 for 3 with a double, home run, and three RBI while O'Malley finished with a double. Jacob Pavlyak added a double to round out the Ravens efforts at the plate.
Game 2: Benedictine 15, Waldorf 14
After a three-run rally in the seventh pushed the game into extra innings, Jackson Doherty ended the game in the eighth with a RBI single that scored O'Malley and gave the Ravens the comeback win.
The two teams combined to use 10 pitchers in the 29-run, 22-hit game. Luke Schmedding threw the final two-thirds of an inning on the hill and earned the win. Andrew Baier earned the start and threw the first four innings. He finished with six strikeouts giving up five earned runs off five hits.
At the plate, the Ravens used 12 hits to score their 15 runs. Seven of the Ravens hits were for extra bases as Jack Harpole hit a double and a triple while Doherty added a double. Jacob Slaten went 3 for 4 with three home runs and seven RBI while Drew Piontek added a home run and three RBI. Brandon Van Beceleare added two hits with two RBI to round out the Ravens offensive efforts.
Game 3: Benedictine 9, Waldorf 8
All nine runs scored by the Ravens came from an RBI as the top three batters in the lineup – Danny Favazza, Pavlyak, and Slaten – accounted for seven combined.
Jacob Steffen made his collegiate debut for the Ravens in relief of Nelson Klein. Steffen threw four and one-third innings in relief, giving up one earned run off five hits with four strikeouts to earn the win. Blake Patterson threw the final inning to earn his first save of the season.
Favazza went 2 for 3, snapping an 0 for 6 over the first two games of the series, recording a double and triple while driving in three. Skylar Specht added a double for the Ravens as he went 2 for 2. Pavlyak added a two-hit game with two RBI while Slaten finished with two RBI. Nathan Huber and Specht accounted for the two remaining RBI.
Weather permitting, the Ravens will take on the University of St. Mary on Wednesday back on Laughlin Field at Olsen Stadium or in Leavenworth. They are scheduled to open Heart play on Saturday and Sunday with a four-game series at home against Culver-Stockton College.
(SID Note - Due to deteriorated conditions and the initial suspension of the series finale on Sunday, a postgame interview was not conducted on Sunday.)
#UnleashGreatness
