Bat scratch fever

MC offense finally heating up

by RyneTate
Courier Staff

Last weekend the Fighting Scots brought back a pair of losses in a doubleheader at Augustana. Despite keeping pace with the streaking Augustana Vikings in both games, ultimately the team was unable to defeat the opposition.

Midwest Conference Player of the Week and team Ace, Dan Dunn, took a loss giving up four runs in six innings. The Scots lost five to three in the first game. Senior Matt Engelhardt started and did not allow a run in his first five innings on the mound during the second game. The only runs scored in the second game came from a set of singles and an error allowing Augustana to win two to nothing.

Three players had a hit in both of the games, Joshua Ragar and Andrew Ogata, as well as Jeremy Kafka in his first games of the season. Kafka elaborated on the Fighting Scots disappointing performance: "We just didn't hit the ball; we combined for seven hits in two games, that's not going to get it done. Our pitching was terrific and the games were close, but the offense never came through." Another Fighting Scot, Ryan Priola said, "It was a cold day and neither team was hitting well, it's too bad really that we couldn't score because we had some good pitching."

In a much more impressive performance on Wednesday, the Fighting Scots scored eleven runs off eighteen hits while only giving up two runs to the Red Devils of Eureka College. Matt Douglas started the game on the mound and went four innings only giving up one run. Nick Allegretti came in next and got through the fifth and sixth innings only giving up one run, he received credit for the win. Brian Chandler pitched a pair of scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth innings and the Fighting Scots closer, Scott Coles, came in and struck out the side in the ninth to insure the win. Priola said that the pitching was "absolutely solid, we really had some great pitching from the freshmen and then Scottie went out there and took them down in the ninth."

The Fighting Scots offense was impressive as it launched four homeruns courtesy of Priola and Chris Smith. Priola had five runs-batted-in courtesy of two Red Devil fastballs; Smith's shots were both solo. Seniors Jason Salmon and Matt Gordon had two doubles apiece joining Jake Gustafson, Ragar, and Kafka as multi-hit players.

The offense that lacked in the doubleheader against Augustana had finally arrived for the Fighting Scots, better late than never. Kafka said, "In batting practice we were hitting a lot of homeruns, I think we all felt confident in our ability to hit, and it showed in our performance."

Saturday marked the first time Kafka was able to play for the Fighting Scots due to illness. Kafka already has four hits in three games. About his return Kafka said, "I'm glad to be back after eight weeks and I just feel great, it's like I never missed a day." Other injured players are returning to practice, as outfielders Matt McIntire and Scott Wolfmeyer have recovered from leg injuries.

Come on out and see the Fighting Scots at their next home game as they take on Midwest Conference rivals Grinnell College Saturday April 1, 2006 at 1:00pm.