(FLORENCE, KY) – The Thomas More University baseball team split a doubleheader with Lewis University on the first day of the series on Friday (Feb. 27). The Saints won the first game in walk-off fashion as sophomore
Drew Barth (Fort Thomas, KY / Highlands) hit a two out, three run homer to finish the game with a score of 9-7 before the Flyers took the second game in a high-scoring affair, 23-13.
Game 1: Thomas More 9 – Lewis 7 (7 innings)
- Lewis struck first, taking a 5-0 lead after three innings.
- In just one inning, the Saints took the lead. It started with a home run from senior Gunner Kalkhoff (Cincinnati, OH / LaSalle) on the first pitch of the fourth inning.
- Junior Ty Cunningham (Fairfield, OH / Fairfield) hit a double to right center field to clear the bases with freshman Sean O'Donnell (Pittsburgh, PA / North Allegheny / USC Lancaster), Drew Barth, and senior Riley Poston (Lancaster, OH / Lancaster) all scoring.
- Ty Cunningham scored during the next at-bat as freshman Jack Geers (Harrison, OH / Harrison) hit a home run to left field to take a 6-5 lead.
- The Flyers retook the lead scoring two runs in the top of the fifth.
- Down to their last out, Thomas More got runners on first and second as Riley Poston walked and pitch-hitter freshman Theodore Bosio (Grand Rapids, MI / Forest Hills Northern) singled to the pitcher. Drew Barth hit a home run over the left field fence to walk off the game.
Game 2: Lewis 23 – Thomas More 13
- Thomas More scored in the first inning as Jack Geers drew a walk, stole second, and got to third on a passed ball before scoring on a junior Matt Resing (Independence, KY / St. Henry) single to right field.
- Lewis started their scoring with a two-run single up the middle and a three-run home run in the top of the second to take a 5-1 lead.
- The Saints tied the game as freshman Ayden Holden (Williamsburg, OH / Williamsburg) scored on a Flyer error, Sean O'Donnell scored on a Ty Cunningham single down the left field line, and Jack Geers and Ty Cunningham scored on a Jack Geers home run to left field.
- The Flyers scored six runs on five hits, including a three-run and a two-run home run and took a 11-5 lead into the bottom of the fourth inning.
- In response, junior Nolan Krekeler (Loveland, OH / Moeller) hit a grand slam to left center and Gunner Kalkhoff scored from second base on a Matt Resing single to center field.
- Another Lewis home run in the top of the fifth pushed their lead out to three runs.
- Jack Geers tripled in the bottom of the fifth to score Ty Cunningham and Sean O'Donnell before scoring himself on a Nolan Krekeler single through the right side to tie the game at 13.
- Lewis scored nine runs in the top of the seventh and on final run in the top of the ninth inning to finish the game up 23-13.
Game 1:
- Drew Barth went 2-4 from the plate, scoring two runs, and earning three RBIs on his walk-off home run.
- Ty Cunningham went 1-3 from the plate with three RBIs on his bases clearing triple.
- Jack Geers went 1-4 with his home run, adding two RBIs.
- Gunner Kalkhoff went 1-3 with his solo home run.
Game 2:
- Nolan Krekeler went 3-5 at the plate driving in five runs including his grand slam.
- Matt Resing had three singles in five at bats driving in two runs.
- Jack Geers went 2-4 with a walk, a triple, and a home run, scored three runs, and drove in four runs. He also had the Saints only stolen base of the second game.
- Ty Cunningham went 1-2, drew three walks and scored three times.
Game 1:
- Redshirt sophomore Joe Stone (Waynesville, OH / Waynesville) started the game, allowing 5 runs – three of which were earned – and 7 hits. He struck out two of the 22 batters he faced.
- Senior Tony Spangler (Springboro, OH / Springboro) had a short outing of .2 innings allowing two hits and two runs, both unearned.
- Senior Jack Perdue (Louisville, KY / Christian Academy) earned the win after his 2.1 innings of work, allowing just 1 hit and striking out 1.
Game 2:
- The Saints sent seven players to the mound. Sophomore Aaron Wichmann (Burlington, KY / Conner) faced the most batters (23) in his 3.2 innings of relief work, and was credited with the loss.
The Saints will finish the series against Lewis tomorrow with a doubleheader. First pitch for the first game is scheduled for noon.
