Davenport no-hitter leads CCSJ Baseball to split with St. Francis in the series doubleheader
Joliet, IL - The Calumet College Baseball team started the weekend on Friday with a doubleheader against St. Francis. The Crimson Wave started the day with a 4-0 win over the Saints, Andrew Davenport throwing a no-hitter and the Wave recording 9 hits. In game two, WIlliam LePretre, Jr. pitched a full 8 innings for the Wave but at the plate, CCSJ came up short in the top of the 8th, losing 3-2.
Game One: CCSJ 4, St. Francis 0
The Crimson Wave scored their first runs of the game in the top of the 2nd inning, starting with a single from Gabriel Quinones who then stole second base. Cody Wilkins reached first base on a walk and was followed by a single from Jacob St. Marie to give CCSJ 2-outs, bases loaded with Sean Moore at the plate. Moore was walked, bringing in Quinones for the first run of the game. Darrius Little was met with the same situation but singled to right field to score Wilkins and give CCSJ a 2-0 lead going into the 3rd inning.
In the top of the 4th inning, Nicholas Anderson singled with 2-outs to give the Wave their first baserunner of the game. Michael Machnic stepped to the plate and hit a 2-run homerun to right field, extending CCSJ's lead to 4-0.
The Crimson Wave's bats were quieted, but their pitching and defense stayed strong as only one St. Francis runner reached base on an error in the bottom of the 5th inning. Davenport threw the full 7 innings, facing the minimum of 21 batters, and striking out 9.
Anderson, Quinones, and St. Marie were all 2-for-4 at the plate for the Wave.
Game Two: St. Francis 3, CCSJ 2
To start off the second game of the doubleheader, the Crimson Wave scored the first run of the ball game in the top of the 1st inning. After singles from Litte, Machnic, and Quinones, the bases were loaded as Josef Selby walked to score the first run of the game.
WIlliam LePretre, Jr. took to the mound for the Crimson Wave in game two and went a full 8 innings, striking out 2 and giving up 6 hits and 3 earned runs.
St. Francis scored their first runs of the day in the bottom of the 3rd inning after the first batter of the inning walked and stole second, a single to center field scored the runner to tie the game 1-1. The Saints scored again in the bottom of the 6th inning after a triple and a grounder to shortstop, St. Francis took the lead for the first time of the day bringing the score to 2-1. In the bottom of the 7th inning, St. Francis scored their 3rd run of the game after a double, extending the Saints lead over CCSJ to 3-1.
In the top of the 8th inning, the Crimson Wave made a run to tie the game. Anderson walked and Machnic singled to give CCSJ two baserunners, but with 2-outs, a failed pickoff attempt by the Saints catcher to get Machnic at first base scored Anderson. The Wave's efforts fell short and were unable to score in the top of the 9th inning to tie the game.
Machnic and Wilkins were 2-for-4 at the plate to lead the Wave in game two.
What's Up Next
The Crimson Wave will play the final game of the series against St. Francis at home at Oil City Stadium on Sunday, March 26th at 1 PM.
