Westminster senior Tyler Branneky broke his fifth career record in Tuesday's conference split with Principia College. The Blue Jays pounded the Principia Panthers in game one, 17-4, while outhitting them 18-4. In game two, the Panthers defeated the Blue Jays, 15-13. The Blue Jays are now 13-8 on the season and 5-2 in conference play.
Game One
Ty. Branneky started the scoring in the bottom of the first inning with a two-run homer. The home run broke the Westminster career home run record, bringing his career total to 24. A batter later, junior Nick Cessna hit a RBI single up the middle to score junior Connor Hager and start the game with a 3-0 lead.
The Blue Jays added an additional three runs in the second inning with a sophomore Adam Mundle fielder's choice RBI and a two RBI double from Ty. Branneky.
In the bottom of the third, the Blue Jays tacked on eight runs to their lead, bringing the game to 14-0. Junior Tanner Branneky started the scoring by bringing in sophomore Nick Bohlmann off a RBI double to left center. Mundle hit a RBI single to score sophomore Blake Strebler, and senior Deion Hughes followed with a three-run home run. Ty. Branneky was walked on the next play, bringing Hager to the plate. Hager hit a RBI double to center field, and Cessna followed with a two-run homer to complete the scoring for the inning.
Principia brought in two unearned runs in the fourth to halt the Blue Jay's chance at a shutout. They added two more runs in the fifth to bring the game to 14-4.
In the fifth inning, Ta. Branneky brought junior Russell Wohldman home with a sacrifice fly out. They Blue Jays added two more runs in the sixth inning with a RBI triple from freshman Mikey Williams and a RBI single from freshman Ryan Klimkiewicz.
The Blue Jays finished the game with 18 hits in the six innings at the plate. Hughes went 3-for-3 with a home run, three runs scored, and three RBI. Ty. Branneky went 2-for-2 from the plate with a home run, four RBI and two runs scored.
Freshman Alex Dickneite (2-0) grabbed the win on the mound after pitching five innings. He faced 22 batters and struck out five.
Game Two
The Blue Jays scored the first run of game two with a sacrifice fly from Hager, but Principia tied the game in the second inning with a home run. Principia followed with five runs in the third inning, four of which came off a grand slam.
In the bottom of the third, Hughes went to steal second, but the catcher overthrew second, allowing Hughes to cross home plate on the play.
Principia hit their third home run of the game in the fourth inning to take a 7-2 lead, but in the botom of the inning, Bohlmann scored a run off a throwing error by the second baseman to put the game at 7-3.
The Blue Jays and the Panthers each scored two runs in the fifth inning. The Blue Jay's runs came from a Hughes RBI double and a Hager RBI single.
Principia scored one run in the sixth, but in the bottom of the inning the Blue Jays brought in three. Hughes hit a two RBI single to right center, bringing in junior Nolan Bax and Ta. Branneky. Ty. Branneky followed with a RBI single to left center to score Mundle, bringing the score to 10-8.
In the top of the seventh, Principia scored one run on a RBI single before hitting their second grand slam of the game to take a 15-8 lead.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Blue Jays loaded the bases with no outs. Ty. Branneky flied out to second, but Hager came up and cracked a triple to right field, bringing in three runs. Cessna then doubled to right field, scoring Hager. With two outs, Ta. Branneky hit a RBI single down the right field line to bring in Cessna. A groundout ended the inning, but the Blue Jays closed the gap to 15-13.
Three quick outs brought the game into the bottom of the ninth with the Blue Jays trailing by two. The Blue Jays left two runners in scoring position when their third and final out came, ending their comeback attempt.
Despite the Blue Jays losing, they finished with 12 hits. Hughes went 4-for-5 from the plate with three RBI and three runs. Ta. Branneky went 2-for-3 from the plate.
Junior Seth Lehmen (0-4) was credited with the loss on the mound. He pitched 2.1 innings.
The Blue Jays play a three-game divisional series with Webster University starting on Saturday, April 9. They will play a doubleheader at Webster on Saturday starting at 1:00 and 3:00 pm and will close out the series with a single game at home on Sunday starting at 1:00 pm.
