Commodores Split With Schoolcraft To Win Their Fourth Contest In Last Six Games

April 30, 2025 - - The Lorain County Community College baseball team fought back after getting shut out in game one to take a split in their doubleheader against Schoolcraft College. They fell 5-0 in game one but edged out an exciting 8-7 victory in extra innings in game two.

With the win, the Commodores have won four out of their last six games.

LCCC dropped game one 5-0 against the Ocelots and managed just five hits while struggling defensively, committing four errors. Jackson Frame (Newcastle, Australia/Callaghan HS) was a bright spot, going 2-for-3 with a double. Joey Kulwicki (Grafton, Ohio/Midview HS), Luke Decker (Elyria, Ohio/Midview HS), and Nick Jiminian (Bronx, N.Y./Mooresville Senior HS) also added a hit each. On the mound, Nick Schuster (Elyria, Ohio/Elyria HS) started and threw 2 innings, striking out 4 batters. ReDon "TJ" Jones III (Mayfield Heights, Ohio/Cornerstone Christian HS) followed with 2 innings of relief and struck out 1, while Yaniel Valentin (Lorain, Ohio/Lorain HS) and Yannick Kiss (Bad Homburg, Germany/Phillip-Reis Schule) each pitched 2 and 1 innings respectively, combining for 3 more strikeouts.

Game two saw the Commodores battle through multiple deficits to come out on top in a back-and-forth affair. After falling behind 3-0 early, LCCC answered with a four-run third inning. Decker got the Commodores on the board with a sacrifice fly, scoring Frame. Travis Gentry (Huntsville, Ala./Huntsville HS) then singled home Colin McCrone (Lakewood, Ohio/Lakewood HS). Kulwicki delivered a clutch RBI single to tie the game, and Gentry later scored on a wild pitch to give LCCC its first lead.

Schoolcraft responded with two runs in the top of the fourth to regain the lead, but LCCC answered again with a two-run single by Decker to go up 6-5. The Ocelots tied it in the sixth, but Gentry struck again with a sacrifice fly to plate Frame and give LCCC a 7-6 advantage.

The Ocelots refused to go away, scoring on a double and an error in the seventh to tie the game 7-7. In the bottom of the eighth, Frame tripled down the right field line and Decker delivered his third RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly, walking it off for the Commodores.

Frame had another standout performance in game two, going 2-for-3 with a triple, two runs scored, and setting the table for both of Decker's sac flies. Decker drove in three runs on the day, including the game-winner. Gentry went 1-for-2 with two RBIs, a walk, and a run scored.

In Game 1 for LCCC, Nick Schuster pitched 2.0 innings and recorded 4 strikeouts. ReDon (TJ) Jones III followed with 2.0 innings and struck out 1 batter. Yaniel Valentin also pitched 2.0 innings, tallying 2 strikeouts. Yannick Kiss closed out the game with 1.0 inning and recorded 1 strikeout.

In Game 2, Jonathan Lockard (Hartville, Ohio/Lake HS) pitched 2.0 innings and registered 3 strikeouts. Giovanni Crawford (Reno, Nev./Earl Wooster HS) threw for 2.0 innings but did not record a strikeout. Kulwicki earned the win in relief, pitching the final four innings and striking out 2.