The baseball team hosted Jamestown CC for a DH on Thursday, suffering two losses despite holding a lead in the seventh inning of each game.
The first game of the day featured a pitchers' duel that did not see the first run of the game scored until the fifth inning. Thomas Ricci, the starter for Broome, was exceptional over 6.0 innings, allowing just one run and striking out six Jayhawks. Troy Moussette from Jamestown allowed just two hits over 5.0 strong innings.
A single to left field put the visiting Jayhawks up 1-0 in the top of the fifth. The Hornets would counter, however, with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. A Jamestown error when attempting to turn a double play allowed Jack Symons and Nathan Moses to cross the plate. The score held 2-1 in favor of Broome until the top of the seventh. A line drive to left field scored a run for Jamestown to tie the score at 2-2, but a throwing error allowed the batter to make it all the way home and put the Jayhawks ahead 3-2. Jamestown tacked on another run for insurance, going up 4-2. The Hornets would go three up, three down in the bottom half, with all three batters putting the ball in play but getting out.
Jacob McTigue, Kobe Dela Cruz, and Symons accounted for the three Hornets' hits in the contest. Broome left many runners on base and unfortunately suffered the loss despite drawing seven walks and striking out just twice.
Game 2 displayed another phenomenal pitching performance by a Hornet. McTigue started and pitched into the seventh inning, allowing just five hits, four earned runs, and striking out six Jayhawks. After Jamestown scored two runs in both the second and third inning, they were held scoreless until the seventh.
Trailing 4-3 heading into the bottom of the sixth, a massive four-run sixth inning put Broome ahead 7-4. Dela Cruz started the rally by drawing a walk after a double-digit-pitch at-bat. Mike Albertine singled, and then Trevor Dennison hit a crucial three-run homer to left field to make it 6-4. Daniel Crowley then drew a walk and made it all the way around the bases by stealing home and making it 7-4 Broome. McTigue allowed an unearned run in the top of the seventh after getting an out and was replaced by Tyler Sienko with the score 7-5. Multiple Hornet errors allowed four additional runs to score for Jamestown against Sienko in what was a five-run top of the seventh. Again, all three Broome batters in the bottom of the seventh put the ball in play but got out, as the Hornets went three up, three down to end the game.
Crowley had two RBIs in the contest as he was hit by a pitch to bring in a run and added a sacrifice fly. Nolan Hawkins was 1-2 with an RBI. The Hornets again showed great discipline at the plate, drawing eight walks and striking out just four times.
Broome falls to 5-20 on the season but has a quick turnaround as the Hornets host Tompkins Cortland for a doubleheader on Saturday, and then will travel to the Panthers for two more games on Sunday.
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