By Joshua J. Darling, Sports Information Director
LAGRANGE, Ga. – Senior third baseman Joe Ruth (Chiefland, Fla.) belted a pair of homeruns and drove in eight RBIs as No. 2/3 LaGrange (5-1, 0-0 CCS) pounded out 34 runs and 31 hits in a 20-3 and 14-2 doubleheader sweep of Rose-Hulman (0-2, 0-0 HCAC) in NCAA Division III baseball action on Saturday, February 25.
GAME 1: NO. 2/3 LAGRANGE 20, ROSE-HULMAN 3
The Fightin' Engineers would push across a run in the top of the first as Dalton Busboom banged a double to centerfield to take a 1-0 lead – and that would be the end of their highlights on the day as the Panthers took complete control from there.
That would take the form of eight hits and seven runs in the bottom of the second, an explosion highlighted by seven singles that took them from down one to up 7-1 and they were off to the races. They would add three more in the third – courtesy of a three-run homerun by Ruth – and four more the following frame.
The Panthers would allow three runs in the top of the fifth before putting the finishing touches on what would be a massive 20-3 win with six more runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Colter Couillard-Rodak led RHIT with two RBIs and a pair of runs scored and Busboom had the other RBI. Ian Kline started and went two innings, allowing seven earned runs and 10 hits to take the loss and go to 1-0.
Ruth led the way with six RBIs as part of a 4-for-5 day that included a homerun and three runs scored while outfielder Rhett Mixon (Loganville, Ga.) was 2-for-2 with five RBIs, four walks, four runs and a homerun.
Senior pitcher Baley Coleman (Hiram, Ga.) threw five innings, striking out seven and allowing six hits and two earned runs to collect the win and move to 1-0 on the year.
GAME 2: NO. 2/3 LAGRANGE 14, ROSE-HULMAN 2
It would once again be far from a pitcher's duel, and early on as the clubs combined for seven runs in the first inning. Rose-Hulman pushed across a pair on a Busboom RBI groundout and a second on a throwing error but that would be no match for the five that LaGrange would put up in the home half of the inning.
They would add another run in the second when Ruth blasted his second homerun of the day, this time over the right centerfield fence. It would be a precursor of what was to come as junior catcher David Smigelski (Canton, Ga.) ripped a two-run homerun after Ruth led off with a double and Mixon laced a two-RBI triple. Freshman catcher Curt Bonner then put the finishing touches on it in the bottom of the seventh as he walked it off with a three-run blast to left, closing out the 14-2 victory.
Busboom would produce the lone RBI and Kade Kline went 2-for-4 with a run scored to pace RHIT. Andy Krajecki had the only other hit on the day and Michael Yager took the loss after giving up five earned runs, six walks and five hits.
Ruth led the Panthers with a 3-for-4 day that saw him rake another homerun to go with four runs, a walk and two RBIs and Bonner had three RBIs on his homer in the seventh. Freshman outfielder Jackson McElvy (Kennesaw, Ga.) went 3-for-3 with a pair of RBIs and Mixon delivered a triple, two walks, two RBIs as part of a 2-for-3 day.
UP NEXT
LaGrange closes the weekend with the finale against Rose-Hulman on Sunday, February 26. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. at Cleaveland Field in Williamson Stadium.
