BRADENTON, Fla. - The Mighty Banyans baseball team split their series against the University of Fort Lauderdale Tuesday afternoon.
The Banyans open the week looking to improve off a promising week one, which saw them win their inaugural opener and split a double-header with an impressive Oklahoma Wesleyan squad.
Game one of the double-header proved to be yet another exciting match up for New College. After a rather slow first three innings, Fort Lauderdale broke the tie with runs in the third and fourth inning, giving them the lead going into the second half of the game. The Banyans finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the inning. Matt Tinder singled into right for the first base runner of the inning.
John McIntosh followed up with a double into center field. A great defensive play from the Eagles prevented Tinder from reaching home safely, but the seal was broken soon enough. Brennen Peterson singled into center field to score McIntosh from second, bringing the Banyans back within one.
The score would stick at 2-1 deep into the seventh inning. The Banyans, with only three outs remaining, put together a clinic to help them pull out the win. It all started with
Jesus Fortis, who singled into right center field to begin the charge. Matt Tinder singled to bring in the tying run. Finally, with two outs and the bases loaded,
John McIntosh connected a low fastball. He drove the ball through the second base gap, clearing the infield and driving in the winning run.
Game two looked as if it would be dominated by NCF through the first three innings of play.
Landen Morrison crossed home plate following a Matt Tinder double, putting the Banyans ahead early in the first inning. NCF scored again in the first on a passed ball, with Matt Tinder coming around to put the Banyans ahead by two.
Jesus Fortis gave the Banyans another run in the third, putting the Banyans up 3-0 with all the momentum. The lead did not hold.
The Eagles quickly eliminated the Banyan lead, scoring four runs before recording two outs in the fourth.
Fort Lauderdale continued to pull away, not allowing the NCF offense to get going again, and scoring runs at every opportunity. Ultimately, the Eagle offense was too much to overcome in game two, with Fort Lauderdale pulling away to a 9-3 win.
Jacob Platko got the win in game one, pitching 3.1 innings of scoreless baseball. Platko struck out two batters, walking one and allowing one hit.
John McIntosh went 2-4 on the day, with one run scored and one RBI.
Allejandro Emmanuel went 4-7 from the plate, recording 2 RBI and scoring one run.
The Banyans are back in action on Friday, Feb 9 when the host United International College at IMG Academy.
