The Titans have a few teams that always give them a problem, and the Riverside Highlanders just happen to be one of those teams. Our record against the Highlanders playing in Riverside is dismal, and when discussing whether or not to make the trip out to Riverside, that definitely plays a role. It’s not that we don’t support the team. We listen avidly to the struggle via the radio, and cheer for good plays and root them on when they need a little extra oomph. But, since I am working on getting my Nowhere Feels Like Home manuscript edited and ready to send out to my eagle eyed team to catch all the mistakes I have missed (and yes I miss a lot), a trip out to Riverside is asking for a big chunk of time away from the editing process, and if I am listening via radio, I can support my team as well as getting the manuscript whipped into shape.
I said the two teams facing off for the opening of conference play would be a battle, and I was right. Friday night the contest went pretty much as expected. The Titans played well, but the game turned into a pitcher’s duel. Titans scored early and were holding on to a 1-0 lead well into the game. Then pitcher Daniel Renken, the Titan starter, let one pitch too many rise up and the Highlanders took him over the fence for a 3 run home run. It’s sad when he did such a good job, keeping the Highlanders to 2 hits until that point in the game, to lose it in one swing of the bat. The Titans outhit the Highlanders, but just couldn’t string them together for the necessary runs.
On Saturday, Noe Ramirez got the start over Kyle Witten. Noe has been stepping in as relief for Witten with a great deal of success, so he got the nod for today’s game. Titans were able to get a man across the plate in the 3rd inning. The run was setup by a double by catcher, Dustin Garneau, then Joe Scott sacrified Garneau to 3rd, and Gary Brown got the RBI single to score Garneau.
Then the Highlanders evened the score in the 7th. The Titans looked like they might go back ahead in the top of the 8th when Josh Fellhauer walked and then stole 2nd. Then Jared Clark walked, and Nick Ramirez stepped up to the plate. Unfortunately Nick, hit a fly ball which was caught to end the inning. After only giving up 3 hits and 1 walk, while getting 5 strikeouts, Noe left the game tied, so got no decision.
The Titan 9th looked very promising as we started off with a Khris Davis double to center and a walk by Garneau. Joe Scott came in and did his job by sacrificing them over a base. So with men on 2nd and 3rd, and only one out, things were looking up for the Titans to get a man across the plate. Hope evaporated quickly as Davis got nicked going home on a Tyler Pill fielder’s choice. Then Garneau got caught stealing home to end the inning.
Riverside was unable to get a man past 2nd base in the ninth, so on into the tenth we went. This time, perserverance paid off for the Titan crew. The inning started off with back to back singles by Gary Brown and Christian Colon, and Brown wound up on 3rd off Colon’s single. Then Josh Fellhauer reached on a fielder’s choice as they attempted to throw Colon out at 2nd, but overthrew, so Colon was safe and Brown scored. Then Jared Clark brought in Colon and Fellhauer with a single to center field. Score at the end of the top of the tenth 4-1. Michael Morrison came on to close out the game and took the win for the Titans. Morrison recorded 4 outs in relief and faced 4 batters, striking out 3 and giving up one hit. The game ended on exciting play as the Highlander batter at the plate struck out swinging and Dustin Garneau gunned the runner attempting to steal 2nd down.
Joe Scott tied a collegiate record by successfully sacrificing 4 times in one game. Way to be a team player, Joe.
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LK Gardner-Griffie
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