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Saints Split to open 2015 Season

Saints Split to open 2015 Season

Ave Maria, Fla.- Siena Heights opened the 2015 season vs Ave Maria earning a split losing game one 4-3 and winning the second game 15-9.

Siena Heights opened the 2015 season vs Ave Maria earning a split losing game one 4-3 and winning the second game 15-9.

In game 1, the Saints jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the 2nd inning when Travis Stricklin scored courtesy runner Lucas Bartz on a ground out after a Zach Dunlop double. SHU added another run in the third when Freddy Jehle scored on an error. Ave Marie cut the lead in half after Rico Soto hit a solo homerun in the fourth, the Gyrenes added two more runs later in the inning to take the lead after a Ryan Keegan two run home run.  After a Dennis Sharp single to start the sixth, pinch runner Lucas Bartz scored again on a Zach Dunlap single to tie the game later in the inning. The winning run was scored by Ave Marie in the bottom of the sixth inning on a Ryan Keegan single.
Leading the way for the Saints at the plate was Zach Dunlop 2-2, (2B, 1 RBI) and Freddy Jehle 1-3 (2 SB).  Thomas McCarter started the game for the Saints going 5 innings striking out 2 and giving up 3 runs.  Taking the loss on the mound was Kyle Burkholder who pitched 1 inning giving up 1 run.  
In game 2 SHU jumped out to another lead, this time batting around the lineup and scoring 4 runs.  Freddy Jehle started the game off with a line drive single which was followed by a Drew Milligan double.  Joe Williams scored Jehle and Milligan with a double to make the score 2-0.  After a Ray Cleary walk, Carson Wlad singled in Williams to make it 3-0.  Eric Henderson rounded out the scoring in the first inning when he singled in Cleary.  The bats continued to stay hot in the second inning as the Saints hit around again scoring 4 more runs to make it 8-0 after 2 innings. Jehle and Milligan set the table again with back to back infield singles.  Williams drove in Jehle with a single to start the scoring off for the inning.  After loading the bases Travis Stricklin and Eric Henderson drew back to back walks to plate two more runs.  Wlad scored later in the inning on a past ball to make the score 8-0 after two. 
The score remained the same until the top of the 4th when Stricklin made the score 9-0 with a sac fly to score Mark Tooley who doubled to start the inning.  Ave Maria scored two in the bottom of the 4th to make it 9-2. The Saints added to their lead in the 6th when they scored five more runs to make it 14-2.  The scoring in the 6th started when Wlad scored on an error, Henderson and pinch runner Dan Muller scored on a Milligan single, Williams doubled in Lucas Bartz and Milligan to end the scoring for the 6th.  Ava Maria scored seven runs in the bottom of the 6th to make it 14-7.  Siena Heights added one more run in the top of the 7th when pinch runner Muller scored on a Henderson ground out.  
Tayler Thelen gained the win going 5 1/3 innings, striking out 6 while giving up six runs on five hits.  Kyle Burkholder came in and closed the door pitching 1 1/3 innings of no hit relief.
Joe Williams lead the hitting assault going 4-5 (2 2B, 5 RBI), Jehle 3-5, Milligan 3-5 (2B 2 RBI, 3 R), Henderson 3-4 (3 RBI), and Wlad 2-3 (2B).
The Saints will return to action tomorrow vs Webber International at 6 pm.