By Jared Tobaison
The Grand Rapids Community College Raiders men’s baseball team played Alpena Community College Lumberjacks at home in a double header on Friday, March 14. The Raiders won both games completing the sweep, winning their first game 5-3 and the second game 3-0.
Game One
Alpena started off the game scoring a run in the top of the first taking a 1-0 lead. The Raiders tied it up right away with a run of their own off of an RBI single from Joey Hysell.
The Raiders continued their scoring throughout the game obtaining a single run in the second through fifth inning. The Lumberjacks scored a run in the third inning making the score 5-2 after five innings, thanks to an RBI double from Jack Lockwood and an RBI single from JT Ten Eyck.
Starting pitcher sophomore Andrew Pohlmann pitched a great game, recording two earned runs and six strikeouts through five innings, recording his second win of the season.
Alpena mounted a comeback in the sixth and seventh inning scoring a run in the sixth inning and threatening to score in the seventh having a runner on first and third base.
That comeback was halted by sophomore closer Ohlen Bond, as he struck out back-to-back batters to end the seventh recording his second save of the season.
Game Two
Game two was a defensive and pitching battle as no runs were scored throughout the first five innings.
The Raiders got their offense in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring three runs. Freshman Jack Lockwood and sophomore Ty Sandwick led off the sixth innings with singles. Hysell brought them home with a two-run triple. Hysell later scored off of a wild pitch, scoring the final run of the inning, giving GRCC a 3-0 lead.
Sophomore starting pitcher Thano Klett recorded his third win of the season with an outstanding outing on the mound. Klett pitched a complete-game shutout, recording six strikeouts and two walks while only allowing three hits.
The Raiders brought their record to 7-12 on the season. They travel to Ohio for their next five conference games, kicking it off on Friday, March 28, against Mid Michigan College at 2 p.m. and Bay College at 4 p.m. and ending with Muskegon Community College on Sunday, March 30.
