JACKSONVILLE, Fl.
The Mighty Banyans won two of three on their road trip to Jacksonville, Florida against Trinity Baptist.
After John McIntosh drove in a run with a groundout in the first inning of the first game, Trinity Baptist got off to 3-1 lead after the first inning had concluded. The Banyans found themselves fighting back the next two innings with a sacrifice fly by Jesus Fortis and a bases loaded walk by Fernando Rivera-Calderon that tied the game in the third inning at 3.
The Banyans were then able to scratch across another run for the lead in the fourth after Patrick Fink drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. And finally, Brecken Fair got hit by the pitch to give the Banyans a 5-3 lead in the 5th inning.
The Eagles fought their way back however, and it did not take long to do so. In the bottom half of that 5th inning, the Eagles brought home 10 runs and took a 13-5 lead by the end of the inning.
A Landen Morrison double would not be enough to march a comeback in this one as the Banyans fell 13-7.
Austin Stephenson started the game for the Banyans and ended up finishing with 4 innings pitched and giving up 5 runs. As Morrison went 3 for 4 with 2 runs batted in.
As Friday turned into Saturday, the Banyans looked to get back on the horse, which they were able to find in the Saturday doubleheader.The Banyans got going in the third inning with another extra base hit from Landen Morrison. In the fourth inning, Avery Bishop was able to drive in two runs with a double of his own to give New College a 3-0 early lead. The Eagles would also scratch across a run in the fourth, but that would be the only run they would score the entire game.
After that it was all New College, which included a six run 6th inning and a five run 7th inning, both helped by a 3 run home run from John McIntosh and a grand salami from Patrick Fink.
Corbin Gilmore picked up the win in this one, pitching four innings giving up just one run and lowering his season ERA to 2.70. Patrick Fink picked up two hits and six runs batted in as the Banyans won 15-1.
The Banyans scored early in the final game with two runs in the first inning. First on a failed pickoff attempt where Morrison stole home and then Hecxiel Perez-Ramirez singled to put the Banyans up 2-0.
That 2-0 lead would be all the Banyans would need in this one as Adrian Orazco went 6 full innings and just gave up an unearned run in the 6th inning, lowering his ERA on the season to 1.46.
The final inning saw some drama as the Eagles got the first runner on in a one run game, however Jonathan Smalenski came in and got a big strikeout with a runner in scoring position and then a groundout and lineout to end the game with the Banyans coming out on top 2-1.
The next time the Banyans play will be against Cornerstone University (Mich.) at the RussMatt Tournament on Tuesday February 25 at 3:30 pm.
