WARRIORS FALL TO INDIANA TECH IN HIGH-SCORING GAMES

TROY, Mich. - Two strong starts needed to be more for the Warriors (8-22, 0-12) to defeat Indiana Tech (11-17, 8-4) in either game of a rainy doubleheader on March 30. First baseman Jack LaRue had a strong day, producing five RBI between the games to give RCU a fighting chance. 

GAME ONE - L, 6-9

Indiana Tech got the first game started with two runs in the first inning, but RCU responded with two scores - beginning with a Luke Jayaraman run home on a sacrifice, then a homer from LaRue into left field. A scoreless second inning by both teams was highlighted by a strikeout double play from Rochester Christian, with catcher Tony Grazioli rifling a ball to second base. 

A quiet third inning transitioned into a tough inning for the red and black, as Indiana Tech scored five runs in the fourth after loading the bases. The Warriors amended some of the damage in the bottom of the fourth behind a double from Aidan Alspaugh and a sacrifice fly from LaRue to bring the score to 7-4. 

The visitors scored two more runs across the fifth and sixth inning to build distance from the Warriors, but RCU gave themselves a chance in the bottom of the sixth thanks to big-time baserunning from outfielder Luke Jayaraman to get a score. After that, LaRue continued his huge day with a sacrifice fly RBI for Lucas Bateman. Unfortunately for the Warriors, the team would be rendered scoreless in the final inning to disrupt the recovery effort. 

GAME TWO - L, 6-11

The second game couldn't have started any better for the Warriors, with the team scoring five runs in the bottom of the first. LaRue started things off with a two-RBI single to run in Bateman and Jayaraman before Trace Hudson hit an RBI single of his own. Capping it off would be Brendan DeFlorio, who struck a ball into right field for a two RBI double to keep the Warriors rolling. 

Defensively, the Warriors held strong for the first three innings, including a pickoff by Aidan Alspaugh at first base. Between the second and third innings, pitcher Collin Powers logged four strikeouts. Despite the momentum, the tide shifted in the fourth inning when Indiana Tech hit a home run for two scores to get back into it. From there, the momentum went towards the team from Indiana, who captured the lead after a five-run sixth inning. 

The scoring continued for Indiana Tech in the seventh inning, with two more unanswered runs before a third in the ninth inning to take an 11-5 lead. The Warriors earned a score during a double play in the bottom of the ninth, but the door was shut on the next at-bat to seal the loss. 

UP NEXT

The Warriors will travel to Southfield for a doubleheader against Lawrence Tech on Saturday, March 6 at 1 p.m.

Hussein Murray - RCU Athletic Communications

Featured Image: Hanna Swanson - RCU Athletics