LYNN, MA

The UMPI Baseball team returned to action after two days off on their spring trip. The Owls returned to Lynn Massachusetts to play a round robin with Fisher and VTSU-Lyndon. Game one was a non-conference matchup with the Fisher Falcons, followed by a NAC matchup with Lyndon. In game one, the Falcons took advantage of a big first-inning to cruise to an 11-0 victory. In game two, the Owls turned it on for when it really mattered most and took away a 6-5 drama-filled conference victory over Lyndon in 10 innings.

Game 1: (11-0 Falcons)

How it Happened:

The two-day gap may have caused the Owls to come out a bit sluggish against their familiar NAIA foes. The Falcons jumped on UMPI early, scoring five in the 1^st inning, four of which came with two outs. They added one in the 2^nd and 4^th, and four in the 5^th. The bats were slow getting going, and the Owls only had three hits the whole way. Fisher took the game with ease in seven innings, 11-0.

At the Plate:

Garrett Chadwick had a single in the 1^st inning to get aboard early. Ricky Garcia had a lead-off single in the 3^rd, and later in the frame Hector Perez singled to move Garcia over. Unfortunately for the Owls, none of these three resulted in runs.

On the Mound:

It was the first career start for Danielle Moser. She ran into trouble with two outs in the first inning, surrendering five, but settled into the game from there on out. She finished her outing with 4 innings pitched, allowing 10 hits and was on the hook for seven runs, and she recorded one strike out on the second batter she faced. Nolan Christiansen also made his first career appearance, tossing two innings allowing three hits and two runs with a strikeout.

Game 2: (6-5 Owls, in 10 innings)

The game of the day proved to be the 2:30 afternoon matinee. The Owls and Hornets traded a run in the 1^st inning, before UMPI tacked on two more in the 2^nd. The Owls added to it in the 4^th, to take a 5-1 lead. The next couple innings were uneventful, but unfortunately for the Owls, it was to be a nine-inning game.

As UMPI tried to hold on to the lead, the Hornets slowly crept back in it, taking advantage of some two-out mistakes. In one of the wackier plays you'll see, the Hornets scored twice in the 6^th after an awkward liner got into the outfield. The attempt to nab a runner at the plate, and then the follow up throw from the catcher found the outfield grass as well, but then the ensuing throw from centerfield got an out at home plate, preventing a third run from scoring on the chaotic play. The Owls escaped to the 7^th with a 5-3 lead.

A sac fly in the 7^th for Lyndon brought it a one-run game, 5-4. A scoreless 8^th, and top of the 9^th, brought the game into the last half inning. That's when Lyndon centerfielder, Evan Duncan led off the inning with a tape-measure home run to straight-away centerfield to tie the ball game at five. The Owls prevented any more damage, sending it to extras.

Despite allowing four straight and Lyndon creeping back in it, UMPI hung tough to start the 10^th. They hadn't scored since the 4^th inning, but baserunners were key. Dylan Geren got things going with a double, then Spencer Harman, pitching in relief, came to the plate for his first at bat in almost two years. He got the ball in play, grounding out to third which was huge to move Geren over.

Then Hector Perez delivered another late-game clutch hit for the Owls in this young season. It brought Geren home and gave the Owls the lead.

In the bottom of the 10^th, Lyndon got runners on, bringing them to the corners, and the Owls then intentionally walked Duncan, to load them and get a force everywhere. With two outs, Spencer Harman got one of the most dangerous hitters in the lineup to ground out to second base, ending the game.

At the Plate:

There were a lot of at bats to be had in this ten-inning contest, which ended up being the longest game UMPI has played in since they took Husson to 11 innings in 2023. The Owls were led by Garrett Chadwick who went 3-5 and had four big RBI early in the game. Ian Michaud, Hector Perez, Sam Bay, and Dylan Geren all had multiple hits, and each had an extra base hit as Michaud and Geren recorded doubles with Perez and Bay both logging triples.

The Owls stole four bases as a squad as well.

On the Mound:

It was another great outing from Garrett Chadwick who got the ball for the second time this season. He threw eight innings and struck out 10 batters in the process. He allowed eight hits and four runs in what became one of the gutsiest efforts of his career. After the 8^th, Chadwick turned the ball over to Spencer Harman who came in to finish it off. Though it took one more inning than he probably would have liked, Harman came through in the clutch in the 10^th inning, pitching in a huge pressure situation with the tying run on third and the winning run on second, but he got the job done, and earned the win. Harman went two innings, allowing two hits and an earned run.

Next Up:

The Owls get back to .500 on the year at 4-4 but also earn their first conference win of the season, and sit at 1-2. They will repeat their schedule from today on Sunday with an 11 a.m. matchup with Fisher followed by a 2:30 p.m. matchup with Lyndon.