LOGAN (OH) - Saturday afternoon, the Marian University Ancilla Baseball team returned to Logan High School field to take on the Hocking Hawks in the final double-header of a 2-day series. Unfortunately, Valentine's Day wasn't too kind to the Chargers, as they suffered two come-from-behind, last inning losses (one in an extra inning) to the Hawks. However, Marian Ancilla played significantly better, especially at the plate. Below is a quick glimpse at key plays and highlights from each of Saturday's contests.

2/14 GAME-1 (L 11-10 in 8 innings): The Chargers struck first in game-1, utilizing a Hawk error and singles by Sophomore Jose Paris and Redshirt Freshman Javier Higham to score Freshman Michael Fry and go ahead 1-0. Hocking answered with 2 runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning and 2 runs in the bottom of the 4th inning, and suddenly MUAC was down, 4-1.

But the Chargers would answer back in a big way. In the top of the 5th, Sophomore Kaleb Short led off the inning with a double, followed by a walk by Redshirt Freshman Owen Negron, which led to Sophomore Aayden Antoine's single that scored Short, and it was 4-2 Hawks. Still with no outs, Freshman Devon Ortiz walked, then Freshman Cade Quick put a ball in play, resulting in an error on Hocking. Subsequently, Negron was able to score, and Freshman Isaiah Vaca (pinch-running for Antoine) was able to score from second base, knotting the game at 4-4. Michael Fry was next up, and the combination of his single, followed by a sacrifice fly from Jose Paris allowed both Ortiz and Quick to score, and it was suddenly 6-4 Chargers.

The top of the 6th inning was equally enjoyable for Marian Ancilla fans, as the Chargers led off with an Owen Negron single. Then, Sophomore Evan Lanphier roped a line drive home run over the left field fence, and it was now 8-4 MUAC. Still with nobody out, Devon Ortiz singled, Cade Quick singled, then Michael Fry laid down a bunt and ended up with a single out of it, plus Ortiz was able to score on the throw to first base; 9-4 Chargers. Following a pair of outs, Sophomore Logan Clark drew a walk to load the bases. Kaleb Short was then hit by a pitch, scoring Quick, and extending the lead to 10-4.

Unfortunately, Hocking still had at least 6 more outs. In the bottom of the 6th inning, they began with a single, a double, then a walk, a single, then another walk, and a wild pitch which helped score a run, and the lead had already been trimmed in half, now sitting at 10-7 in favor of the Chargers. Marian Ancilla put the ball in play in the top of the 7th inning, but they hit it at defenders, going 3-up and 3-down.

In the bottom of the 7th, trailing by 3 runs, the Hawks needed a rally. The first batter struck out, but then they accumulated a pair of walks, a hit batsman, a single, a walk, and a sacrifice fly, and just like that, the game was tied at 10-10 and headed into extra innings.

Once again, the Chargers put the ball in play in the top of the 8th. They began with 2 ground outs, but then Javier Higham and Logan Clark each reached via singles, followed by a walk by Kaleb Short. With the bases now loaded, the third and final out came via a fly ball to right field, stranding all 3 runners.

In the bottom of the 8th inning, Hocking didn't waste much time. Their first batter struck out, but then they walked, singled, and then singled home the game-winning run, winning by an 11-10 score. Freshman pitcher Aedan Muench (0-1) was credited with the loss in his first appearance of his career.

2/14 GAME-2 (L 9-8): The second matchup on Saturday produced similar results, but there were some really good things done by Charger hitters once again. Sensing the urgency of needing to get one victory this weekend, Sophomore Aiden Marcus led off the game with a line drive double to right field. Following 2 outs, Sophomore Evan Lanphier smashed his own line drive double to left field, scoring Marcus, and putting MUAC up, 1-0. On the very next pitch, Freshman Devon Ortiz hit a ground ball to center field, allowing Lanphier to come around and cross the plate, and it was 2-0 Chargers early in this one.

In the bottom of the 2nd inning, Hocking would get a run back on a play that saw 2 Charger fielding errors. The Hawks now trailed, 2-1. Marian Ancilla would immediately respond in the top of the 3rd. Evan Lanphier led off the inning with another double to left field. Following an out, the Chargers then hit 4 consecutive singles, extending their lead to 4-1. Redshirt Freshman Owen Negron, Freshman Armando Arroyo, Sophomore Jose Paris, and Freshman Linardy Rodriguez were responsible for the 4 hits.

Hocking didn't want to let the Charger lead expand too much, and in the bottom of the 3rd inning, with no outs, the Hawks picked up a single and then a 2-run home run out to right field, and it was a 1-run game once again; 4-3 MUAC. The Hawks would add another in the bottom of the 4th, thanks to a double and a single, to tie the game at 4-4.

Then, in the bottom of the 5th inning, Hocking made a surge. They used a walk, a ground out, then a suicide squeeze to take a 5-4 lead. Next, following a Charger error, a walk, and another Charger error, momentum had quickly changed and it was now Hocking's game to lose, as they led 7-4.

In the top of the 6th inning, Marian Ancilla decided it wasn't going away just yet. Jose Paris led off the inning with a double. After a Charger strikeout, Aiden Marcus singled, scoring Paris. Marcus then stole second base, and Sophomore Logan Clark singled home Marcus. Freshman Cade Quick pinch hit and doubled, scoring Clark, and it was tied again at 7-7. Aayden Antoine and Devon Ortiz would both walk to load the bases. That brought Owen Negron to the plate. Negron hit a sacrifice fly out to right field, and Quick was able to score. The Chargers were up once again, 8-7.

Hocking couldn't manage any runs in the bottom of the 6th, and Marian Ancilla went 3-up, 3-down in the top of the 7th, so the score remained at 8-7. It was the Hawks' final turn. They led off with 2 singles, but then MUAC turned a double play and things were looking good again, though Hocking had a runner at second base. The next player up walked to put runners at first and second base. Hocking then hit a ground ball but the Chargers committed a fielding error, allowing the tying run to cross at 8-8. The final batter hit a ground ball to short stop, however, he was ruled safe on the throw, and the 9th and winning run crossed at the same time, lifting the Hawks to a 9-8 victory.

Freshman pitcher Johnnomar Alsina (0-3) suffered the loss in this heartbreaker. All in all, the Chargers knocked 13 hits in 7 innings, including lacing 5 doubles and stealing 5 bases. However, they also committed 6 errors, which proved to be costly to the outcome of the game.

The Charger Baseball team revs up again this weekend, when they host a round-robin of games Friday and Saturday at Loeb Stadium in Lafayette (IN). On Friday, Marian Ancilla will take on Milwaukee Area Technical College (WI) at 2:00p, then they host Highland Community College (IL) at 5:00p. Saturday, the schedule flips, as they host Highland at 2:00p and MATC at 5:00p. Please come out and support the Chargers, if you are able!!