ONU Splits with Saint Xavier on a Sun-Splashed Afternoon at Watson

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – The Olivet Nazarene University baseball team returned to Watson Field on a sun-splashed Tuesday afternoon hosting the Cougars of Saint Xavier University.

Game One: SXU 4, ONU 3

The Tigers and Cougars found themselves in a pitcher's duel throughout the game as both teams only surrendered a grand total of 7 runs and 12 hits in the game. The Cougars kicked off the scoring in the top of the second inning when they scored a run on a catcher overthrow making the score, 1-0. The Tigers then marked a run in the bottom of the third inning. KC Isenberg led off the inning with a single and was replaced by Jordan Veldman (SO/Mahomet, Ill.) as a pinch runner. After back-to-back sacrifice bunts, Veldman found himself on third base. During Ryan Russman (SO/Wheaton, Ill.)'s at-bat, Veldman scored on a wild pitch.

The Cougars and Tigers both scored runs in the fourth inning as the Cougars got their run on an RBI double and the Tigers marked theirs on a sacrifice fly by Jacob Bulthuis (SR/Tinley Park, Ill.). The score was 2-2 until the Cougars platted two runs on a sacrifice fly and a passed ball. The Tigers tried to cut into the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. With one out, Alex Ortiz (FR/Ponte Vendra Beach, Fla.) tripled to right center field and Nate Moonen drove him in on an RBI single.

The Tigers put two more runners on in the inning but could not capitalize on runners in scoring position and fell 4-3. In his first collegiate start, Griffin Sahli (FR/Lexington, Ky.) pitched four innings giving up two two hits on two runs and struck out two batters.

Game Two: ONU 11, SXU 5

The Tigers got off to a fast start in the first inning when Bulthuis drove in two with an RBI double and Isenberg drove home Bulthuis on a sacrifice fly making the score, 3-0. ONU made some more noise in the second inning when Timo Schau (SR/Chicago, Ill.) platted Hudson on an RBI single, Russman drove home Schau on a groundout, and Isenberg kept up his impressive day at the plate going with an RBI double. The Tigers led 6-0. After the Cougars got a run back on a solo home run, the Tigers kept scoring runs in the third inning. In the inning, Hudson laid down a sacrifice bunt and knocked in Alex Ortiz, Schau singled hom pinch runner Gunnar Pullins (JR/Valparaiso, Ind.), and later, Schau scored on a wild pitch making the score, 9-1.

After a quiet fourth inning, the Cougars drove in four runs on a two-run double and a two-run home run. Jordan Almodover (JR/Deltona, Fla.) came back in the bottom half of the inning and homered, moving the score to 10-5. The Tigers scored another run in the sixth on an RBI single by Moonen making the score 11-5.

Starting pitcher Tyler Guertin (SR/Bourbonnais, Ill.) pitched seven innings and Parker Hale (SR/Fort Wayne, Ind.) and Sean Micetich (SO/Coal City, Ill.) combined for three strikeouts in the bullpen as the Tigers took the final game of the day, 11-5.

Game Vitals

Finals: Game One: SXU 4, ONU 3 | Game Two: ONU 11, SXU 5

Records: Olivet Nazarene 15-15 (7-4 CCAC) | Saint Xavier 16-15 (5-5 CCAC)

Location: Watson Field | Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais, Ill.

Quick Hits (Both Games)

• Schau went 4-for-5 in the second game with a couple of RBIs and marking three runs.
• Moonen was the lone Tiger to have two multi-hit games today.
• Bulthuis and Isenberg joined Schau in driving home two runs.
• Almodover marked his first home run of the season in game two.
• Bulthuis doubled twice in game two.
• The Tiger pitching staff had 11 strikeouts against 7 walks.

What's Next?

The Tigers travel to Rex Weede Field to play the Titans of Indiana University-South Bend on Friday, April 9. First pitch for this single nine-inning game is set for 3 p.m.

--ONU—

*Contact: Sam Viebrock, Sports Information Director, stviebrock@olivet.edu