The Kellogg Community College baseball team opened season play with a doubleheader win over Lake Michigan College at home Thursday, besting the Red Hawks 8-2 in game one and 13-6 in game two.
Full results from each game follow.
Game 1: KCC 8, LMC 2
Freshman pitcher Jayden Dentler (Allegan/Otsego High School) led the Bruins from the mound in game one, pitching 6.1 innings and striking out eight while allowing just two hits and a single earned run.
Dentler also led the Bruins at the plate, hitting 2-3 with three RBIs. Freshman infielder Justin Ratliff (Battle Creek/Lakeview High School) went 1-1 with two RBIs.
“We played well in our conference opener,” Head KCC Baseball Coach Eric Laskovy said. “Dentler was amazing in stifling a very good offense. We played good team defense and the offense eventually came around.”
Game 2: KCC 13, LMC 6
Freshman pitcher Zach Marshall (Rockford/Rockford High School) pitched 4.1 innings for the Bruins in game two. with three earned runs. Freshman pitcher Ryan Vought (Battle Creek/Pennfield High School) pitched 1.1 innings for the win.
At the plate for KCC in game two, sophomore Connor Brawley (Dowagiac/Lakeshore High School) went 3-3 including a home run and four RBIs. Sophomore infielder Connor Hnilo (Caledonia/Caledonia High School) went 2-3 with a home run and three RBIs.
“Proud of our effort and resiliency in game two,” Laskovy said. “LMC took the lead and the momentum in the fifth inning. We answered in the bottom half of the inning and added to it in the sixth to seal the win.”
As of this writing the Bruins are ranked first in the team’s Michigan Community College Athletic Association Western Conference with a perfect 2-0 conference record and an overall record of 11-2.
The Bruins play next on the road beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 27, when they take on Lake Michigan College for a doubleheader in Benton Harbor. The team’s next home game begins at 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 30, a single nine-inning contest at Bailey Park in Battle Creek. All home games are free and open to the public.
For more information about KCC’s baseball team, including a full schedule, roster and links to official team and player photos available for download by fans and the press, visit www.kellogg.edu/baseball.
Head KCC Baseball Coach Eric Laskovy can be reached at laskovye@kellogg.edu or 269-965-3931 ext. 2536.