In game 1, Moline jumped out to an early 2 - 0 lead after 3 innings. We answered with 3 runs in the 4th inning after a lead off triple from Ian Milligan and an RBI ground out from Jake Hannam. Drake Sykes then reached base on a bunt single, then stole second base and was driven home by a single from Drew Nall. A single from Carson Cheesman moved Nall from first to third and Nall scored the go ahead run on a wild pitch. Moline answered with runs in each of the last 3 at bats, with two more of those runs reaching base due to walks. We failed to score with a runner at 3rd and one out in the sixth and failed to score after having runners at first and second with no one out in the seventh inning.
Moline threw a strong left handed thrower Dallas DeVrieze who struck out 6 hitters in 3 2/3 innings with a good sophomore curve ball and finished with Matt Brill who struck out 4 with a little more velocity. Our pitchers struggled a little more with the tall mound at Blodgett field and walked 7 batters, 4 of which ended up scoring.
In Game 2 Moline beat Normal West in an exciting extra inning contest.
In Game 3 we dug ourselves out a 4-1 hole that was created by 4 fielding errors. We were able to get the offense going in the third inning thanks to another bunt single from Drake Sykes, that was followed with a stolen base, a single from Chans Sugden and a double from Drew Diaz. After tying the game at 6 in the 4th inning, The floodgates opened in the fifth after Milligan and Riley VanVelsor reached on an error and a walk and Hannam followed with a bunt single. After another error that scored 2 runs, Sykes followed with a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third and Nall drove in a run with a sac fly.
We still struggled on the mound, walking 6 more hitters, but it was good to see our bats come alive. I think our players are starting to buy into the small ball concept of bunting and running and putting pressure on the defense. We still have a lot of work to do on the mound and in the field, but I'm encouraged by what I saw Saturday.
I would like to thank Knox College for letting us use their facilities, Officer Luna and the freshman that helped run the concession stand, and the parents for helping with the players' meals between games. Hopefully the rain will hold off and we'll be able to make some more progress on Monday night at Dunlap.
