Westminster's sophomore Adam Mundle tied the program season record for triples in Tuesday's split with Blackburn College. The Westminster Blue Jays won game one, 21-6, but dropped game two, 8-4. The split brings them to 21-11 on the season and 12-7 in conference play.
Game One
Mundle led off the bottom of the first with his record tying triple down the right field line, and he was brought home with junior Connor Hager's RBI single to left center. Sophomore Nick Bohlmann hit a RBI single to right field, bringing home Hager, and Blackburn walked in the final run of the inning to give the Blue Jays a 3-0 lead.
In the top of the second, Blackburn scored a run with a sacrifice fly, but the Blue Jays scored six in the bottom of the inning to take a 9-1 lead. Hager, Bohlmann, and junior Tanner Branneky each hit RBI singles to the outfield and sophomore Blake Strebler smacked a RBI double down the left field line. Blackburn walked in two runs to close out the inning.
The Blue Jays tacked on five more runs in the third inning, starting with a two RBI double coming from Ta. Branneky. Bohlmann scored on a balk, and Ta. Branneky came home on junior Nolan Bax's RBI fielder's choice. Senior Deion Hughes brought in Bax with a RBI single to left field to take a 14-1 lead.
Blackburn scored three runs in the fourth to cut the game to 14-4, but the Blue Jays scored two runs in the bottom of the inning with back-to-back doubles by Ta. Branneky and Strebler.
Westminster put up five runs in the fifth inning to take a 21-4 lead. Hager hit a sacrifice fly, junior Nick Cessna RBI doubled to left field, Strebler RBI singled up the middle, and Ta. Branneky hit a two RBI triple to center field.
Blackburn scored two runs in the seventh inning off a home run to end the game with the score 21-6.
The Blue Jay offense posted 22 hits with 20 runs batted in. Ta. Branneky went 4-for-4 from the plate with six RBI and four runs scored. Bohlmann went 4-for-5 from the plate with two RBI and three runs scored. Hager and Strebler each went a perfect 3-for-3.
Ta. Branneky (2-1) grabbed the win on the mound. He pitched four innings and struck out four. Senior Tyler Branneky, Bax and junior Seth Lehmen each pitched an inning in relief.
Game Two
Blackburn started game two by putting up four runs in the top of the first including a three-run shot over the right field fence.
Westminster scored one run in the bottom of the inning with Hager's RBI single down the right field line, and two in the second with back-to-back solo home runs from Ta. Branneky and Strebler to cut the lead to just one run, 4-3.
Blackburn put up three runs in the fourth and a run in the seventh to pull ahead, 8-3.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Blue Jays scored a run off Bax's ground out RBI, but it was not enough to stop the Beavers from winning 8-4.
Despite the loss, the Blue Jays matched the Beavers with 10 hits. All nine batters finished with a hit, and Bax grabbed two from the plate.
Freshman Alex Dickneite (2-2) is credited with the loss on the mound. He pitched five innings, faced 26 batters and struck out four. Senior Justin Riggins came in as relief and pitched the remaining four innings. He faced 16 batters and struck out one.
The Blue Jays host Iowa Wesleyan for a three-game division series starting on Saturay, April 30. They will use the doubleheader on Saturday as Senior Day with game one beginning at 1:00 pm. Seniors will be honored in between games one and two. They will hold the series finale on Sunday starting at 1:00 pm.
