Clark State Eagles Sweep Commodores With Comeback In Game One

April 10, 2024 - -  The Lorain County Community College baseball team had victory in their sights during game one against Clark State Community College Tuesday afternoon but a four run rally by the Eagles snatched away a win as the Commodores fell, 8-7.  Their luck didn't get any better in game two as the Eagles completed the sweep with a 12-2 win.

Recap

Game 1

After Clark State scored a run in the first to take an early lead, LCCC went to work on offense with three runs in the bottom half of the first inning.  Jaden Nestor-Fox (Vermilion, Ohio/Vermilion HS) doubled to start the game and then scored when Mason Shultz (Vermilion, Ohio/Vermilion HS) tripled two batters later.  Shultz scored when Joseph Mealey (North Ridgeville, Ohio/North Ridgeville HS) stole second base and Clark bobbled the ball attempting to throw home. Mealey scored on Jordon Streamo's (Girard, Ohio/Niles McKinley HS) single after the Commodores loaded the bases.

Clark would come back to tie the contest in the third inning with a pair of runs but the Commodores responded in a big way in the bottom half of the frame. With one out, the Commodores loaded the bases and got a run on a sacrifice bunt by ReDon TJ Jones III (Mayfield Heights, Ohio/Cornerstone Christian HS).  On the next at bat, Nestor-Fox doubled scoring Streamo and Tyler DiLuciano (Cleveland, Ohio/Holy Name HS).

Another run came in the fourth for the Commodores.  Shultz led off with a single and Joey Kulwicki (Grafton, Ohio/Midview HS) tripled him home to give LCCC a four run lead.

But that's where the offense ended for the Commodores as Clark scored once in the fifth and then plated four in the sixth forcing starter Hunter Cahl (Elyria, Ohio/Elyria HS) off the mound.  Cahl had navigated his way through five innings limiting damage with a pair of strikeouts.  Kulwicki came on in relief and pitched the final two innings with one strikeout.

Game 2

The Eagles held the Commodores in check until the fourth inning when they scored two runs.  Up until that point they had one base runner, a walk by Jones III in the third, until Shultz broke through with a one out single in the fourth. Schultz scored on a bases loaded walk and Kulwicki, who doubled earlier in the inning, scored on a wild pitch by the Eagles pitcher.

Notes

• Nestor-Fox failed to reach base for just the second game this season in game two.  He had his ninth multi-hit game of the season in game one, a team-high.  He doubled twice for the first time this season.
• Joey Kulwicki had his third multi-hit game of the season in game one
• Mason Shultz has hit safely in four straight games

Next Up

LCCC will host DIII Region 12 rival Owens Community College at Sports Force Parks on Friday, April 12, 2024.  First pitch is at 1 p.m.