Goshen College baseball entered a doubleheader on Tuesday looking to end their eight game losing streak. The Maple Leafs succeeded not once, but twice in 4-2 and 8-2 wins over Indiana University Northwest at Goshen College.
The starting time of the first game was moved forward to 1 p.m. in an effort to avoid the predicted rain showers that were approaching.Once the first game was underway, starting pitcher Aaron Keister gave up one run in the top of the first inning, but the Maple Leafs took control with a three run first inning and never looked back.
The Leafs added a fourth run in the fourth inning, taking advantage of a Redhawks throwing error. After the first inning, Keister, a junior, pitched five more innings without giving up a hit, finishing with five strikeouts and sealing the win 4-2.
After a brief break, the Maple Leafs came out swinging in game two.
The Leafs took a commanding lead early on, scoring five runs in the first inning. Goshen added a run in the third inning, capitalizing on one of the Redhawks’ four errors in the game. The Leafs added one more run in each the fourth and sixth innings, walking away with their second win of the day, this time by a score of 8-2.
Pitcher Shane Kurtz, a junior, started the second game and pitched all seven innings, giving up just six hits and two runs with four strikeouts to earn the win.
“The team played great defense to back up good pitching,” said Jason Crocker, a sophomore. “The team really took advantage of situations when we had the chance.”
With this confidence boost, the Maple Leafs will face Spring Arbor University in Michigan on Thursday and then again on Saturday with home field advantage.
