Erie Baseball Goes 4-1 in First Weekend of Play

Lakeland, Fl- The Erie Community College men's baseball team began their 2020 season with a five game weekend in Florida.  The Kats took four out of five games, scoring a total of 45 runs while only allowing 19.

In the opening game on Friday, Erie defeated Vermilion Community College 18-0. Greg Hare led the Kats to victory. Hare was 2-4 at the plate and drove in four runs with a grand slam in the fifth inning.  Billy Quinn earned the victory on the pitcher's mound. He allowed one hit and zero runs over five innings, striking out three and walking one.  Trey Swartz and Jackson Painter entered the game out of the bullpen and helped to close out the game in relief.

On Saturday the Kats played a double header with Century College. The teams played a tight first game but Erie would eventually prevail 7-5. The game was tied at five with Erie batting in the bottom of the sixth when Isaiah Salas hit into a fielder's choice that scored the winning run.  Dan Aguilar started the game for the Kats. He surrendered four runs on five hits over three innings, striking out three

The second game was a higher scoring affair with Erie taking the win 11-6. Both teams would score a pair of runs each in their first at bats.  The Kats would pulled away for good with one run in the third on a  AJ Karosas solo homer.  The team would explode for seven runs in the fifth inning.  Erie's big bats in the inning were led by singles by Brandon Orr, Adam Rankie, and Brayden Byers, a walk by Karosas, and a sacrifice fly by Tristen Ciarlo.   Isaiah Salas started the game for Erie. He allowed seven hits and four runs over five innings, striking out four and walking one. Nolan Evans took the win for Erie.  He surrendered two runs on four hits over two innings, striking out one and walking one.

On Sunday, Erie would face off for two games agains Jackson College. Nolan Evans pitched Erie to victory in the first game. He allowed zero hits and zero runs over two and two-thirds innings, striking out three.  Jordan Prince threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen.  Prince recorded the last three outs to earn the save for the Kats.  The Kats totaled six hits in the game.  Adam Rankie and Carter Arbuthnot each had multiple hits with Rankie leading the team with three hits in four at bats.

In the final game of the weekend, Jackson rebounded to defeat the Kats 6-1.  Kyle Blunt was on the hill for ECC. He allowed two hits and four runs over three innings, striking out one.  Blake Faulds and Jackson Painter entered the game from the bullpen, throwing two innings and two innings respectively.  Caine Gregoire, Brayden Byers, and Cole Cote all had one hit for the Kats. 

Erie continues their spring games with another double header on Tuesday, March 10th vs. Minnesota West Community & Technical College.