Doane traveled to Leavenworth, Kansas, for a three-game series with the University of St. Mary this past weekend and came away with their first win of the season. On Saturday the Tigers lost 9-7 but bounced back with a win in game one on Sunday 4-2. The Tigers dropped the finale 16-4. Saturday, March 1
Doane jumped out early, taking a four run lead into the bottom of the third inning. They scored two in the first inning, one off the bat of Bryan Dutcher and the other on a sacrifice fly by Tyler Johnson. USM struck back with runs in innings 3-through-5. The fifth inning proved to be the toughest for Doane as USM scored five runs. They added an insurance run in the seventh inning.
Doane posted a three-run inning in the eighth. Calan Reichstein, Mike Mendenhall and Dutcher each collected RBIs. Mendenhall, Austin Parker and Dean Henson each collected two hits. Dutcher finished with two RBIs but took the loss on the mound. He allowed seven runs on 12 hits in 4.1 innings of work. He struck out five batters.
Sunday, March 2
The Tigers and Spires entered into a pitcher's dual in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader. Doane posted runs in the third and fifth innings before USM tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Mike Mendenhall collected the biggest hit of the game in the top of the seventh when he connected for a two-run home run to give Doane the 4-2 victory. He finished with three hits and three RBIs in the game. Bryan Dutcher was 3-for-3 with an RBI. Eric Stuart scored three Tiger runs, pinch running in place of Luke Henderson. Evan Koetter was the victor, pitching seven innings and allowing two runs on nine hits while striking out nine.
In game two, the Spires dominated from the start. The collected all 16 of their runs in the first three innings. Brent Payne took the loss for Doane as he allowed 11 runs (four earned) on seven hits in 1.2 innings of work. Five Tiger errors led to 12 unearned runs in the game. Chris Williams had the big hit for Doane with a three-run home run in the top of the second inning.
Up Next
Doane will host Valley City State on March 8-9 in Crete. The games can be heard on the Tiger Sports Network if they are played at the Ledon Baseball Field on the Doane College campus.