Commodores Split With Community Christian

The Lorain County Community College baseball team split a doubleheader at The Pipe Yard against Community Christian College, bouncing back from a one-run loss in game one with an explosive 17-run performance in game two to secure the victory.

Game One

The Commodores' comeback effort in the first game fell just short in the final inning. They took an early lead in the bottom of the first when Travis Gentry (Huntsville, Alabama/Huntsville HS) put LCCC on the board with a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Jacob Sanders (Columbia Station, Ohio/Columbia HS). On the next at-bat, Jackson Frame (Newcastle, Austrailia/Callaghan HS) crushed a two-run home run to left, giving the Commodores a 3-2 lead.

The Lions responded in the top of the third, but Frame came through again in the bottom half with a two-run double to center, bringing home Gentry and Sanders. Luke Decker (Elyria, Ohio/Midview HS) followed with a triple to score Frame, extending LCCC's lead to 6-3.

However, Community Christian answered with six runs in the top of the fourth inning to take a 9-6 lead.

LCCC fought back, adding two runs in the bottom of the ninth, but the rally came up short as the Lions escaped with the win.

Nick Schuster (Elyria, Ohio/Elyria HS) started for the Commodores and went 3.0 innings striking out four batters.  Kulwicki came on in relief and pitched three innings with three strike outs, and Frame pitched a scoreless seventh.

Game Two

The Commodores found themselves in an early hole after the first inning, as the Lions plated six runs. However, LCCC responded with runs in every inning to complete the doubleheader split.

Slowly chipping away, the Commodores got on the board in the first when Frame singled home Colin McCrone (Lakewood, Ohio/Lakewood HS). After the Lions added a run in the second, Joey Kulwicki (Grafton, Ohio/Midview HS) doubled to score Kian Ortiz (Lorain, Ohio/Clearview HS), then came around to score himself on a single by Tyler Diluciano (Cleveland, Ohio/Holy Cross HS).

LCCC carried the momentum into the third inning, scoring three more runs. Frame launched a two-run home run to center field, and Kulwicki later drove in Decker to cut the deficit to 7-6.

The Commodores took the lead for good in the fourth. With two runners on, Frame delivered once again, ripping a double down the left-field line to score Sanders. Decker followed with a double of his own, scoring Gentry and Frame, before Ortiz added an RBI single.

ReDon Jones III (Mayfield Heights, Ohio/Cornerstone Christian HS) came on in relief in the first inning and shut the door the rest of the way, striking out five to secure the win.

LCCC added two more runs in the fifth with two outs—Jones scored on a bases-loaded walk, and Gentry came home on a wild pitch, pushing the lead to 12-8.

To seal the victory, the Commodores tacked on five more runs in the sixth inning, capitalizing on three Community Christian errors.