Billy Schmitt was on the mound for six and two-thirds innings as the Knights faced Loras in their home opener Friday and Saturday. File photo
ERIC THIELE STAFF WRITER
The Wartburg baseball team finished a three-game weekend roadtrip against Loras 1-2. The Duhawks topped the Knights in both of Saturday’s games.
In the final game of the weekend, the Knights held a 2-1 lead, but the Duhawks fought back and came out on top 3-2.
The Knights were down 1-0 in the top of the fifth inning when Zach Nagle was able to tie the game on a sacrifice, which allowed A.J. Lewis to score.
In the next at bat, Ben Roemmich, was able to hit a single up the middle and Isiah Stevens was able to score, giving the Knights a 2-1 lead.
That lead only lasted until the bottom of the fifth when Loras’ Alex Miklo homered to tie the game. In the bottom of the seventh, Loras was able to win the game on a single.
Roemmich and Billy Schmitt led the way with two hits each. Roemmich also had one RBI in the loss. Schmitt went six and two-thirds innings, giving up seven hits on the mound.
“Schmitt pitched well enough to win the game, we just weren’t able to give him any support,” head coach Joel Holst said.
Earlier on Saturday, the Knights lost 7-2. The Knights were down 1-0 when they went to bat in the top of the third inning.
Roemmich started the inning by drawing a walk, before a Danny Rose single advanced Roemmich to third. A sacrifice by Mike Johnson scored Roemmich, tying the game at one.
With the bases loaded, Kyle Jones was able to drive in the second run of the inning giving the Knights a 2-1 lead.
Loras answered with three runs in the bottom of the third and again in the bottom of the fourth making it 7-2. The Knights were unable to answer.
Danny Rose led the way with three of the Knights’ six hits for the game. Johnson and Jones each had one RBI. Brad Watson went six innings, giving up 10 hits and seven runs while on the mound.
“It was just a disappointing start to the conference season. Just was not a good day overall for the baseball team. To lose two of three is not a good start,” Holst said.
On Friday night, the Knights were able to defeat Loras 8-5.
The Knights were able to jump out to an early lead as they scored two runs in the first inning.
Roemmich was able to score on a double by Jerrold Martijn. Schmitt was also able to drive in a run in the inning as well on a single to left field that scored Johnson.
In the second inning, the Knights were able to add to their lead by putting up three runs. Rose was able to hit an RBI double that scored Lewis and advanced Nagle to third.
Johnson then came up with two outs and hit a two-run single to left field that scored Rose and Nagle.
The Knights were unable to keep their lead as the Duhawks answered with two runs in the fourth inning and three runs in the fifth to tie the game at five.
The score stayed locked until the eighth inning when Patrick Grau led off with a double. Schmitt was able to drive him in with a single.
After Lewis and Nagle were able to get on base and advance to second and third, Roemmich was able to reach on a throwing error by the Loras shortstop. The error scored both Lewis and Nagle, giving the Knights an 8-5 lead which held for the win.
Schmitt led the team in hits with three and also had two RBIs. Rose and Grau each were able to contribute two hits and Rose had two RBIs while Grau had one.
“It is going to come back to the 13 seniors and what they want out of this season. Hopefully we will bounce back from this weekend. One day is not going to break our season,” Holst said.
The Knights will host Simpson in their home opener on Friday. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.