Stags Split Double-Dip with Bobcats and Loggers

CLAREMONT, Calif. – On Friday, the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps baseball team hosted the Bates Bobcats and the Puget Sound Loggers in a split doubleheader. Trey Smith (CMC) delivered a two-run homer to left center in the bottom of the first inning against Bates and the Stags took advantage of a number of free passes from the Bobcats to earn a 9-1 victory in the first-half of the twin-bill. CMS dropped the nightcap of their doubleheader against the University of Puget Sound 13-3 in an eight-inning shortened due to darkness. The loss snaps the Stags' seven-game winning streak.

Game One: CMS defeats Bates 9-1

CMS starter Cameron Cash (CMC) scattered six hits over his six innings and allowed just one run while striking out eight to earn his third victory of the season in the Game One victory. Nico Mannucci (CMC) tossed three innings of scoreless relief to earn a rare three inning save.

CMS drew six walks and were hit by four pitches in the game.

The Bobcats drew first blood with one run on three hits in the top of the first inning. CMS responded in a big way in the home half of the first. Smith worked the count full with two away and belted a monster two-run shot to left center field to put the Stags up 2-1.

The Stags took advantage of Bobcat pitching struggles in the bottom of the second, scoring five runs on just two hits. After Patrick Gavin (CMC) reached on an error by the third baseman, Carson Bridges (CMC) wore a pitch to put two on with one out. Alex Clemens (CMC) and Ryan Motter (CMC) drew back-to-back walks, plating Gavin before Kevin Nakahara (HMC) sent an RBI single through the right side. After an RBI walk was issued to Smith, CJ Novogradac (CMC) ripped a two-run double just inside the bag at third to push the advantage to 7-1.

Cash continued to dominate on the mound, sitting the Bobcats down in order in the third and fourth, striking out the side in the fourth.

Bates troubles on the mound led to more CMS runs in the bottom of the fifth. Novogradac was hit by a pitch to leadoff the inning and advanced to third on a double from Henri Levenson (CMC). Gavin took first on a hit-by-pitch to load the bases and Clemens walked to bring in a run. Levenson crossed home on a wild pitch to put the Stags up 9-1.

Mannucci entered the game in the top of the seventh, taking over on the mound for Cash, and pitched a scoreless three innings to earn the first save of his career.

As mentioned, Cash struck out eight in his six innings on the mound to improve to 3-1 on the season.

Smith led the offense with three RBI, including his two-run shot in the first inning. Novogradac, Lenvenson, Bridges, and Clemens all had doubles in the game.

Game Two: Puget Sound defeats CMS 13-3

The Stags faced the Loggers in the second half of Friday's doubleheader and could not hold back the potent Puget Sound offense. The two teams played evenly through the first three innings before a five-run fourth gave the Loggers a lead they would not surrender for the rest of the game.

After Puget Sound scratched two across in the top of the first, the Stags plated one of their own on an RBI single from Smith in the bottom of the stanza.

Patrick Shore (CMC) did his part from behind the plate, cutting down a runner attempting to swipe second in the top of the second.

Gavin led off the bottom of the second with a walk and Brandon Mitchell (CMC) reached on an error. Both runners advanced on a passed ball and Gavin came around to score on a wild pitch. Mitchell scored the second run of the inning on a Nakahara double down the right field line to put CMS up 3-2.

The lead was short-lived, however, as the Loggers scored one in the third before striking for five in the fourth.

Puget Sound proved too much to handle on Friday, notching 20 hits in a 13-3 victory over the Stags.

Smith added two hits in Game Two and brought his RBI total to four on the day. Nakahara had an RBI double and a stolen base.

The Stags face Puget Sound again on Saturday to complete the two-game series. First pitch is slated for 2:30 p.m.