Colorado Christian University came to Crete and put up double-digits in run in three straight games while the Tiger defense also had their struggles, committing at least three errors in each of those games. On Saturday, CCU was victorious 13-5 and 12-4 while on Sunday they swept two games, 18-8 and 4-2.
Saturday, February 23
Colorado Christian took game one 13-5 thanks to a seven-run first inning. Doane rallied with three runs of their own in the bottom of the inning but the Cougars added four more runs over the next two innings. Bryan Dutcher took the loss, allowing 11 runs (seven earned) in 2.2 innings of work. He gave up 10 hits and walked four batters. Offensively, Dean Henson was 2-for-3 with two RBIs while Philip Tan was 1-for-1 with two RBIs.
In game two, Doane struck first with a run in the first inning. Dutcher singled, advanced to third base on a Chris Williams double and scored on a Cody Shoultz sacrifice fly. However, CCU struck back with six runs in the third inning and five runs in the fifth. The Cougars scored 12 runs on six hits, drawing four walks and six hit by pitches. Trevor Buchholz took the loss, allowing six runs (three earned) on three hits, four walks and three hit batters.
Sunday, February 24
The Cougars scored in each of the first five innings, including four in the first and second innings and five in the third inning. Marshall Carr suffered the loss, allowing 12 runs (nine earned) in 2.1 innings of work. He gave up 11 hits to the 22 batters he faced. Doane's offense was sparked by six runs in the sixth inning. Calan Reichstein posted two RBIs on a pinch hit single in the inning.
In game two, Doane led for 6.2 innings before an error tied the game and forced extra innings. Doane scored in the second inning when Thomas Frinkman singled to score Chris Williams. In the sixth inning, Marshall Carr scored on a sacrifice fly by Luke Henderson. Evan Koetter took a two run lead into the top of the seventh inning. With one out, CCU notched their first run of the game but Koetter responded with a strike out on the next batter. He then induced a pop-up on the infield but it was dropped, allowing the tying run to score. CCU scored two runs in the tenth inning for the win. Koetter went seven innings, allowing six hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out seven.
Up Next
Doane will travel to Leavenworth, Kan., to take on University of St. Mary on March 1-2.