URBANA, Ohio -- Urbana baseball split its home doubleheader Saturday against Wheeling Jesuit in a pair of one-run games. The Cardinals took the first game 1-0 before the Blue Knights responded with a 6-5 victory in the second matchup at Blue Knight Baseball Field.
The Blue Knights return to action on Sunday at 1 p.m. against the Cardinals.
// GAME 1 (WJU 1, UU 0)
Game 1 at Blue Knight field was another pitcher's duel for Vitor Takakura. The senior threw a complete game only allowing one run but couldn't get the run support to find his first victory of the year. Takakura finished his seven innings with eight strikeouts and allowed only four hits. Five different players recorded a base knock, led by Mickey Losey's double.
The lone score of the ball game came in the first inning on a two out single to left field. UU countered by loading the bases but left all three runners aboard in the home half. This was a consistent theme for UU all day after stranding six runners, despite out-hitting the Cardinals.
UU had a chance to even the score in the final at-bat, but a dramatic finish occurred.
Marcel Toney led off with a single to right field and fellow freshman Justin Drennen came in to pinch run. Drennen advanced to second on a great dirt-ball read; he then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Senior Tanner Davis came up to the plate and lifted a fly ball toward the line in left field, Drennen tested the left fielder but was unfortunately gunned down at the plate to end the game.
// GAME 2 (UU 6, WJUÂ 5)
Senior Steven Beall was on the hill for Game 2 of the day. Beall was looking to stay hot as he has been one the bright spots for the UU pitching staff this season. Fellow senior Cody Fullenkamp got the start behind the plate and his bat woke up the Blue Knight offense.
In the bottom of the second inning, with two outs, Fullenkamp stepped into the box. Down to his final strike of the at-bat, Fullenkamp laced a double down the line driving in UU's first run of the day making it a 1-0 ball game.
UU exploded for a five-run third inning again led by a clutch two-out, bases-clearing double by Fullenkamp.
It had been a pretty clean day for the Blue Knights in the field until the top of the seventh inning. Three errors allowed the Cardinals to score four runs which ended the day the for Beall. Robert Guerrero III came in a slammed the door shut for his third save of the year.
Fullenkamp ended his career day with two doubles and four RBIs. He also threw out a baserunner ending an early threat for WJU.
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