COLUMBIA, Ky. (Baseball) – The Shawnee State baseball team got three hits from Mitchell Lendenski (SR/Loveland, Ohio) and RBIs from Conner Wilson (SR/San Diego, Calif.), Nick Rose (FR/Olentangy, Ohio) and Andrew Vanthournout (SO/Bowling Green, Ky.), but could not erase a three-run deficit in the ninth, falling to Lindsey Wilson in the opening bout of a three game set on Friday night at Egnew Park.
The Bears (17-27, 5-11 Mid-South) found themselves in a three-run hole following a two-run bottom of the eighth – as Brandon Munoz dropped a two-out, two-RBI single to shallow left – but rallied to give themselves a chance in the ninth.
Following a pair of outs to open the inning, Lendenski beat out a tremendous diving effort from Munoz at second base for a single and Blake Marshall (FR/Lexington, Ky.) drew a walk to start a rally.
Wilson followed with a single to plate Lendenski and push Marshall to third. Pinch running for Wilson, Christian Helton (FR/Lexington, Ky.) swiped second to put the tying run on second. Lindsey Wilson (30-17, 10-6) closer James Doubet slammed the door shut, inducing a fly out from Nick Rose to grab his sixth save of the season.
Derek Moore (JR/Wheelersburg, Ohio) (5-4) took the loss in the game, going seven innings, scattering eight hits and four runs (two earned) while striking out five. Brandon Bonar (SR/Chillicothe, Ohio) pitched two-thirds of the eighth, allowing a pair of earned runs, and James West (FR/Englewood, Ohio) closed the door on the eighth with a strikeout versus the only batter he faced.
Shawnee State struck first in the contest when Lendenski opened the game with a single, stole second and moved to third on a sac bunt from Wilson. Rose singled to give the Bears a 1-0 advantage.
The Blue Raiders responded with four-straight runs, all coming in the first two frames. SSU got back into the contest in the sixth with a pair of runs, as – after a run scored on a double play – Vanthournout singled home Brandon Reaman (JR/Dayton, Ohio), who doubled with two outs to set up the scoring play.
Shawnee State and Lindsey Wilson return to action on Saturday at Egnew Field in a doubleheader to bring the series to a close. Game one is slated for a 3 p.m. CT start.
