Lamoni, Iowa – Mayville State Comets Baseball took on the Graceland University Yellow Jackets for a double header Saturday afternoon.
Game 1 vs. Graceland – W 13-11
Things started off well in game one of the day for the Comets as they would score two in the first inning.
Chris Shopbell was hit by a pitch and then
Carson Lundmark homered to right center driving him in.
This put Mayville State up 2-0, but the Yellow Jackets quickly responded by plating three runs in the bottom of the first making it 2-3.
The Comets were able to score in the second and fourth without a response from Graceland, as Mayville State held the lead 7-3.
The Yellow Jackets were able to put two across the plate in the fifth making the score 7-5, but a 3 run homerun by
Zachary Evanochko extended the Comets lead 10-5.
In the bottom of the 6
th Graceland strung together some hits and tied it up 10-10.
It would do it for the Comets in the top of the 8
th when Mayville State was able to add 3 runs and hold off the Yellow Jackets to get the win.
Gregor Farquharson started on the mound for the Comets allowing 8 hits and 4 earned runs. He struck out 7 and walked 3.
Ryan Froemke came in but get up 4 earned runs and was replaced by
Jack Patten who pitched a full 3 innings. He gave up 3 hits, 2 earned runs and struck out 3 and sealed the W.
The Comets would tally up 15 hits in the first game of the day.
Chris Shopbell went 3-3 with 4 runs, 2 RBIs & a SB
Carson Lundmark went 2-2 with 3 runs, 5 RBIs, 2 walks, HR & a SB
Zachary Evanochko went 3-5 with 5 RBIs, 2B, HR
Riley Rankin went 3-5 with 3 runs, 2B, 3B & a SB
"It was good to see some resilience in the first game today as well as having the bats finally do what they are capable of," said head coach
Billy Tomblin.
Game 2 vs. Graceland – L 1-6
It was a slow game for both offenses as no one scored until the third and not again until the bottom of the sixth.
The third inning would be a tough one for Graceland as they walked two and had an error, loading the bases with 2 outs.
Carson Lundmark then came up to the plate and was hit by a pitch allowing Rankin to walk in the only run for Mayville State.
The Comets held off Graceland until the bottom of the sixth where a couple of hits and 2 homeruns would allow the Yellow Jackets to take the lead 6-1.
Mayville State could not respond and fell to Graceland 6-1.
Derek Palmiere got the start on the mound for the Comets. He pitched 5 innings allowing only 5 hits, 3 earned runs and have 6 strikeouts.
"Derek pitched a real good game for us today. He gave us every opportunity to win but we just stalled offensively," added Tomblin.
Colby Snider and
Caiden Schwehr would pitch in the final inning, allowing the Yellow Jackets to score 3 runs on 3 hits.
Graceland's three pitchers only allowed 5 scattered hits and collectively struck out 6 in six innings.
Riley Rankin went 1-2 with a BB
Michael Feralio had a pinch hit single
"This was a very frustrating weekend as a whole. We really struggled on the mound. We lacked the ability to command the zone with the fastball and really struggled to spin the breaking ball for a strike. Offensively we just need to get some consistency with quality at bats," said Tomblin.
The Comets will get a day break and then wrap up their 6 game road stint on Tuesday where they will take on Morningside in a double header in Sioux City, Iowa.
Tomblin also added, "I still contest that we are a whole lot better than what we are showing on the field and a whole lot better than the record shows. The key is us just getting out of our own way."
For full schedule updates visit:
https://msucomets.com/sports/baseball/schedule
