The Monarchs playoff
chances have dwindled after being swept by the Xenia Scouts today at Adrian
College’s Nicolay Field. They are still alive, but must win at least three, if
not all four, of their remaining games.
Game 1:
The Monarchs lost the
first game to Xenia 10-4 despite the efforts of Sam Russell.
Russell (Central
Michigan) did his best to keep the Monarchs in the game as he went 2-3 with a
run scored and two RBIs – including a solo home run in the sixth inning to pull
the Monarchs to within 5-3.
Mike McKinley (Indiana) gets ready to deliver a pitch in the first game. He went five innings, but took the loss.
Photo Credit: Tim Corbey --(view larger image)
His brother, Daniel
Russell (Eastern Michigan) followed with a triple to right center, and he
scored on an RBI single to left field by Kurt Farmer (Nebraska). 5-4 is as
close as the Monarchs would get, though, as the Scouts scored five runs (one
earned) in the seventh inning off of Tyler Scott (Toledo) and Logan
Brunkenhoefer (Oklahoma State).
The Monarchs managed a
total of eight hits in the game. Including Sam Russell’s two hits, Seth
Willoughby (Xavier), Ryan Ford (Middle Tennessee State), Jack Scanlon (Western
Michigan), Daniel Russell, Farmer, and Chris Savas (Central Michigan) also had
one hit apiece for Lake Erie.
Farmer and Savas picked
up one RBI each, while Russell had the other two.
Two big innings for
Xenia proved to be the difference in the game. Aside from the seventh inning,
the Scouts posted five runs in the third inning against Lake Erie starter Mike
McKinley (Indiana), who went four innings and allowed five hits and two walks
while striking out seven.
Sam Russell (Central Michigan) rounds third base and is congratulated by manager Mike Montgomery as he cut the deficit to two runs in the sixth inning.
Photo Credit: Tim Corbey --(view larger image)
Tim Corbey (Dayton) relieved
McKinley in the fifth and allowed two hits and a walk in one-third of an inning
before Tom Polus (Georgetown) relieved him and got out of a jam with a
strikeout and a fielder’s choice groundout.
Polus then allowed a
single, but nothing more in the sixth before Scott took the mound for the
Monarchs in the seventh inning. Scott went two-thirds of an inning, while
allowing two hits and four runs (one earned). He walked one and struck out one.
Brunkenhoefer allowed
two hits and one unearned run while striking out one in the final one-third of
an inning.
McKinley (2-4) took the
loss, while Patrick Williams (2-3) got the win. Cody Ponder got his first save
of the season.
The loss drops the
Monarchs to 17-19-1 overall and 16-18-1 in the Great Lakes League.
Line Score - Game 1
-Team-
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Scouts
0
0
5
0
0
0
5
10
12
0
Monarchs
0
0
0
2
0
2
0
4
8
1
Daniel Russell (Eastern Michigan) slides safely into third base on a triple to right center. While he ended up scoring on a Kurt Farmer (Nebraska) single, he narrowly missed a home run on the play, which would have been back to back home runs by the Russell brothers.
Photo Credit: Tim Corbey --(view larger image)
Game 1 MVP
Sam Russell
AB
3
H
2
R
1
RBI
2
HR
1
Game 2:
Reid Rooney (34, Central Michigan), and catcher A.J. DeMarco (Toledo) check on Monarchs pitcher Alex Radon (Toledo) after he was hit by a line drive.
Photo Credit: Tim Corbey --(view larger image)
The Monarchs playoff
chances hang by a thread after they took another tough loss in the second game
of a doubleheader 7-6.
After taking a 2-1 lead
with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Monarchs allowed six runs
in the top of the seventh.
Down 1-0, the Monarchs
got two runs on a sacrifice fly by Seth Willoughby (Xavier) and an RBI single
by Sam Russell (Central Michigan).
Alex Radon (Toledo)
pitched a great game, although he may have run out of gas in the seventh
inning. He entered the inning having thrown 86 pitches, but had done well up to
that point.
Dylan Vogt (Nebraska) pitched the final 2 1/3 innings for Lake Erie. He did not allow any runs.
Photo Credit: Tim Corbey --(view larger image)
Radon got the first out
of the inning, but then gave up three consecutive singles – including an RBI
single by Colby Braddock to tie the game. Logan Brunkenhoefer (Oklahoma State)
then relieved Radon with runners on first and second with one out.
Brunkenhoefer didn’t
have his best stuff as he allowed six straight base runners on four singles and
two walks.He allowed his two inherited
runners to score, as well as four of his own.
Radon’s final line was
6.2 innings, six hits, three runs, one walk, and one strikeout. Brunkenhoefer
didn’t record an out while allowing four hits, two walks, and four runs.
Dylan Vogt (Nebraska)
relieved Brunkenhoefer and retired the final batter of the seventh inning before
pitching a scoreless final two innings for the Monarchs.
Daniel Russell (Eastern Michigan) prepares to haul in a fly ball.
Photo Credit: Tim Corbey --(view larger image)
The Monarchs attempted
to come back in the bottom of the seventh inning on a fielder’s choice
groundout by Alex Johnson (Cleveland State) and a sacrifice fly by Ryan Ford
(Middle Tennessee State). Those two runs cut the score to 7-4.
The Monarchs made it
interesting in the bottom of the ninth when they scored two unearned runs off
Jacob Reding.
Reid Rooney (Central
Michigan) walked to lead off the inning. Kurt Farmer (Nebraska) then pinch ran
for Rooney.
Farmer advanced to
second on an errant pick-off throw by Reding before the next two batters got
out. Alex Johnson (Cleveland State) then singled to left center, but Farmer
stopped at third. Ryan Ford (Middle Tennessee State) then walked to load the
bases.
Seth Willoughby
(Xavier) then hit a ball to second base, but the throw to first was wild.
Farmer and Johnson both scored on the play to cut the lead to one, but Sam
Russell hit into a ground ball to third base where Ford was forced out at third
unassisted.
Johnson was the only
two hit performer for Lake Erie, as the Monarchs were held to five hits.
Johnson went 2-4 with two runs and an RBI while Sam Russell, Rooney, and A.J. DeMarco
(Toledo) got the other three hits.
Ryan Ford (Middle Tennessee State) shares a conversation with manager Mike Montgomery (20).
Photo Credit: Tim Corbey --(view larger image)
Johnson, Ford,
Willoughby, and Sam Russell had an RBI apiece.
Caleb Allen (2-3) got the win in relief for
Xenia, while Radon (2-3) took the loss. Reding picked up his third save of the
year while pitching the final two innings.
Lake Erie is now
17-20-1 overall and 16-19-1 in the Great Lakes League. They are now in a
winning percentage race for the playoffs, but are three games under .500 with
four games left.Every other team ahead
of them is currently at .500 or above, except the Cincinnati Steam, who are
14-15. Thus, the Monarchs will likely have to win at least three of those four,
if not all four, to have a chance.
The next game for Lake
Erie is tomorrow at home vs the Lima Locos beginning at 7:15 p.m.
The Monarchs did what they could to try and get a full game in tonight, but Mother Nature just wouldn't let them.
First, the scheduled game time was 7:15 p.m. Team officials moved first pitch up to 6 p.m. due to looming inclement weather. After two innings or so, dark clouds moved over the field.
Then, with Grand Lake up 5-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning, the game was halted for a short time due to rain. Play resumed and Alex Johnson (Cleveland State) struck out on one pitch as he had an 0-2 count before the rain delay.
Then, shortly after the sixth inning began around 7:30 p.m., lightning was spotted and the game was delayed again. This time, however, the delay turned into the end of the night as rain followed and forced the game to end after five innings.
Lake Erie scored first in the second inning when Kurt Farmer (Nebraska) reached on a one out bunt single. He moved to second on a groundout by Bill Charvat (Illinois). Kyle Bischoff (Purdue) then came up big with a two out RBI single to right center scoring Farmer.
Grand Lake then scored two in the top of the third inning on an RBI groundout and an RBI single.
Lake Erie answered back in the third when Seth Willoughby (Xavier) led off with a double to right field. He stayed at second on a groundout by Ryan Ford (Middle Tennessee State) before stealing third base.
Johnson then struck out looking before Sam Russell (Central Michigan) hit another two out RBI single for the Monarchs - this one to left field just over the shortstop's outstretched glove. Daniel Russell (Eastern Michigan) struck out to end the inning.
Grand Lake then scored three runs in the fifth on an RBI single and a two RBI double to finish the scoring at 5-2. Five runners reached base for the Mariners in the fifth.
Despite the best punches from Dylan Vogt, the Monarchs couldn't beat the Mariners tonight.
Photo Credit: Tim Corbey --(view larger image)
Tanner Libby (Illinois) started for Lake Erie and took the loss. He went all five innings allowing eight hits, five runs and one walk. He struck out one while dropping to 2-1 on the season.
Tyler Melling (1-0) got the win for Grand Lake. He went the first four innings and allowed four hits, two runs, and two walks. He struck out five.
Matt Igel pitched the fifth inning to earn his first save of the season.
Lake Erie is now 17-18-1 overall and 16-17-1 in the Great Lakes League. Grand Lake moves to 13-17.
The next action for the Monarchs is Sunday at home vs the Xenia Scouts. It will begin at 1:30 p.m., and it is a doubleheader.
Mike Moyer (Western Michigan) was one of the main reasons Lake Erie won. He relieved Eric Vaughan (Owens C.C.) in the fourth inning and went 3.2 solid innings - allowing only one hit and two walks to pick up the win.
Photo Credit: Tim Corbey --(view larger image)
Eric Vaughan (Owens C.C.), who has established himself as the ace of the Monarchs pitching staff, had his first bad outing of the year Thursday night, but Mike Moyer (Western Michigan) and the rest of the team picked him up and led the Monarchs to an 8-7 comeback win over Delaware.
Vaughan went 3.2 innings while allowing eight hits, seven runs and five walks. He struck out six and exited with the Monarchs down 7-3.
That's where the Monarchs offense went to work by scratching and clawing their way back. They picked up a run each in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Then, they scored two in the seventh inning to complete the comeback and take the 8-7 lead.
Logan Brunkenhoefer (Oklahoma State) is congratulated as he walks off the field in the eighth inning. He got the final two outs with runners on 1st and 2nd to end a Cows threat.
Photo Credit: Tim Corbey --(view larger image)
Jack Scanlon (Western Michigan) had an RBI double to right center in the fourth, Kyle Bischoff (Purdue) hit into a bases loaded double play to score a run in the fifth inning, and Scanlon got an RBI groundout in the sixth.
Sam Russell (Central Michigan) came through with what turned out to be the game winning hit, despite the final run coming on an error., in the seventh inning. Russell hit a ball into right center scoring Daniel Russell (Eastern Michigan). However, the centerfielder misplayed the ball - allowing Bischoff to score the game winning run.
The top five hitters in the Monarchs lineup did most of the damage, led by three hitter Scanlon, who went 3-4 with a run and two RBIs. Leadoff hitter Seth Willoughby (Xavier) went 0-3, but he drew two walks and scored two runs. Ryan Ford (Middle Tennessee State) hit from the two hole and went 3-4 with two runs. Chris Savas (Central Michigan) went 2-5 with an RBI as the cleanup hitter and Daniel Russell went 1-2 with three walks, two runs, and two RBIs.
Daniel Russell (Eastern Michigan) scores the game tying run in the seventh inning on a hit by his brother, Sam Russell (Central Michigan). Kyle Bischoff (Purdue) would also score on the play to give the Monarchs an 8-7 lead.
Photo Credit: Tim Corbey --(view larger image)
Overall, the one through five hitters went 9-18 with seven runs and five RBIs. They reached on a hit or a walk in 15 of 24 plate appearances.
Moyer (1-3) relieved Vaughan in the fourth inning and dominated while picking up the win in relief. He pitched 3.2 innings and allowed only one hit and two walks. At one point, he retired 11 of 12 batters faced, with the only runner coming on a hit by pitch.
Moyer may have run out of gas in the eighth inning, though.
After striking out the leadoff hitter, Moyer gave up a double and a walk. Logan Brunkenhoefer (Oklahoma State) then entered the game. He induced a high chopper to third base where Kurt Farmer (Nebraska) made the stop, but didn't have a play at first base. Without hesitation, Farmer hustled to the third just in time to get the second out.
Chris Savas (Central Michigan) tags a runner out a third base in the second inning on a throw by Jack Scanlon (Western Michigan) in left field. Savas later switched over to third base when Kurt Farmer (Nebraska) entered the game to play third.
Photo Credit: Tim Corbey --(view larger image)
Brunkenhoefer then struck the next batter out to end the threat, lowering his season ERA to 0.75.
Dylan Vogt (Illinois) allowed a two out walk, but escaped with no other damage in a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his league leading eighth save.
Greg Williams (0-3) took the loss for Delaware.
The night also included some key substitutions for Lake Erie. Sam Russell's base hit came after Coach Mike Montgomery inserted him as defensive replacement in the top of the seventh. Farmer was a defensive substitution at third base and Bischoff, who scored the game winning run, came in the game to replace A.J. DeMarco (Toledo) who tweaked his groin in the first half of the game.
Lake Erie is now 17-17-1 overall and 16-16-1 in the Great Lakes League. Delaware is now 15-14.
