DAVENPORT, Fla. – The MSOE baseball kicked off their 2023 season with a doubleheader sweep of Wartburg College on Sunday afternoon before falling in a single game with Saint Mary's (Minn.) on Monday morning.

RESULTS

Game 1
MSOE RAIDERS – 6
Wartburg – 1

Game 2
MSOE RAIDERS – 1
Wartburg – 0

MSOE RAIDERS – 2
Saint Mary's (Minn.) - 3

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Wartburg Game One
  • Wartburg (0-2) struck first on an RBI single in the top of second inning. In the bottom half, Luke Schraufnagel reached on a hit by pitch to set up Nolan Wojciechowski with an RBI single off an error from the left fielder to tie the game at one.
  • The fourth inning was where MSOE (2-1) completely blew the game open. Francis Ryan came in to pinch hit with bases load and showed great plate discipline drawing a walk to bring Collin Truitt in to score. Two batters later, Chris Barnes hit the first home run of the season for the Raiders with a grand slam to give them a 6-1 lead, which eventually proved to be the final score.
• Wartburg Game Two
  • The second game proved to be a big pitcher's duel as Nolan Vincent had a complete game shutout only allowing five hits and two walks. He also allowed his fielders to rest having nine strikeouts and two three-up three-down innings.
  • The lone run came in the third inning as Blake Hall reached on a fielder's choice to the shortstop, eventually stealing second. Micah Overley brought Hall around to score on the single which proved to be the winning run.
• Saint Mary's (Minn.)
  • It wasn't until the fourth inning until the bats began to spark as Joseph Teschke gave up two hits into the outfield for Saint Mary's (1-2) to bring home the first two runs of the game. The Raiders answered immediately in the top of the fifth inning as Micah Overley took advantage of a bases loaded situation with a single into centerfield to bring home Kyle Labedz and Charlie Gannon to tie the game at two.
  • In the bottom of the eighth, the Cardinals broke the tie with a sacrifice fly to the right fielder to take a 3-2 lead going into the top of the ninth. The Raiders had an opportunity to tie the game having a runner on second, but a flyout to the shortstop gave the Cardinals the victory.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES

• Wartburg Game One
  • Tyler Gronert – 7 Innings | 14 Strikeouts
  • Chris Barnes – 2 for 3 | 4 RBIs | Grand Slam
• Wartburg Game Two
  • Micah Overley – 2 for 3 | 1 RBI
  • Nolan Vincent – 7 Innings | 9 Strikeouts
• Saint Mary's (Minn.)
  • Micah Overley – 1 for 3 | 2 RBIs
  • Nolan Wojciechowski – 2 for 4 | 1 Run

WHO'S ON DECK
The Raiders will be back in action tomorrow when they take on Moravian at 1:45 PM.

For up-to-the-minute MSOE Raiders news, visit us at www.go-raiders.com. You can also follow the Red & White on Twitter @MSOE_Raiders and @msoe_raiders on Instagram.