CHAIN O' LAKES, Fla. - The no.21 nationally ranked Mount Union baseball team (13-3) played a non-traditional doubleheader as they played Rutgers-Camden (4-5) and no. 7 nationally ranked Salve Regina (5-1). The Purple Raiders split the doubleheader, winning game one against Rutgers-Camden 8-2, but lost game two 6-3 in an intense battle with Salve Regina.
In game one, the junior left-handed pitcher
Luke Ickes delivered a dominant performance, pitching 7.0 innings while recording five strikeouts and limiting the Scarlet Raptors to just three hits and one earned run. He also contributed offensively with two hits and an RBI, showcasing his strong performance on both the mound and at the plate.
In the third inning, Mount Union fell behind 1-0 when Jacob Watson of Rutgers-Camden scored due to a fielding error. However, in the fifth inning, the Purple Raiders found their rhythm and continued to build momentum. Ickes recorded an RBI groundout, and sophomore shortstop
Daniel Tome III (Cleveland, OH / St. Edwards) followed up with a two-RBI single to right-center field.
In the sixth inning, junior outfielder
Brycen Fox (Hamilton, OH / Badin) hit a double that drove in two runs, sending the ball to left-center field. Mount Union added two more runs in the seventh inning when senior second baseman
Aidan Schroeder (Pittsburgh, PA / Keystone Oaks) hit an RBI single to center field. Sophomore
Derek Curry (Pittsburgh, PA / West Allegheny) also scored on a play where Schroeder was caught stealing, but Curry crossed home plate before the out was recorded.
Junior right-handed pitcher
Drew Gernert (Mequon, WI / Homestead) closed the door, pitching 2.0 innings with three strikeouts, allowing no hits or walks, securing the 8-3 victory.
In game two, senior right-handed pitcher
Anthony Warner (Louisville, OH / Louisville) got the start, and he pitched 4.1 innings with two strikeouts, allowing four runs.
The Purple Raiders got the scoring started in the first inning, as senior outfielder
Chris Tsouras (Las Vegas, NV / Arbor) hit an RBI single up the middle of the field. Tsouras had a big performance, going 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs.
Salve Regina had a strong second inning, scoring four runs. The team's overall impressive performance was led by starting pitcher Nolan Romanowski, who delivered an outstanding 6.0 innings with five strikeouts while allowing three runs.
Mount Union found momentum at the top of the sixth inning, where the team scored two runs. Tsouras hit a deep opposite-field solo home run to left field, and Curry delivered an RBI single to left field in a crucial pinch-hit situation.
Senior right-handed pitcher
Ryan Romito (North Ridgeville, OH / North Ridgeville) gave Mount Union a solid 1.2 innings of work out of the bullpen, allowing zero runs and tallying three strikeouts.
The Seahawks ended up adding two more runs in the seventh inning, and the Purple Raiders comeback fell short, losing 6-3.
Mount Union went 6-1 on its Florida trip and will return to Ohio to begin Ohio Athletic Conference play, facing Capital on the road.
