Ravens Power Past Defiance on Senior Day

The Anderson University baseball team took back-to-back wins on Saturday against the Defiance College Yellow Jackets at Don Brandon Field in a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader. The Ravens improved their record to 18-15, 18-5, while the Yellow Jackets fell to 6-27, 6-27 on the season. The Ravens took game one 10-9, and game two 22-12 in eight innings.

Before today's games, the Ravens honored their nine seniors: Bennie Day, Zach Lane, Clayton White, Kennedy Parker, Kasey Henderson, M.J. Furnish, Dustin Dowden, Jonathan Willoughby, and Branton Sanders. Thank you for your contributions to Anderson University and the baseball program.

GAME ONE: ANDERSON 10, DEFIANCE 9

Defiance went scoreless in the first inning while Anderson brought in three runs in the bottom half. The Ravens first run came from a Justin Reed single and a defensive error, bringing in Branton Sanders. After a walk and a hit by pitch, T.J. Price reached second base on a fielder's choice, sending Rene Casas Jr. to third and Justin Reed home. On the next at bat, M.J. Furnish sacrifice flied to right field, sending home Casas Jr. The Ravens ended the inning with a 3-0 lead.

Both teams went three-up and three-down in the second inning.

In the top of the third, the Yellow Jackets had a four-run inning on four hits, making it a 4-3 ball game. Anderson wasted no time to answer back though. Jason Hall-Manley got the scoring action started with a double to center field to bring in Casas Jr. Price followed with the next at bat by singling to left field, sending Hall-Manley home. T.J. Price later scored off a Jonathan Willoughby single down the left side. The Ravens took back the lead at 6-4.

The fourth and fifth inning went scoreless on both sides. The Yellow Jackets brought in one run in the top of the sixth before the Ravens brought in three off a Justin Reed homerun. The Yellow Jackets scored back-to-back-to-back runs in the seventh. Neither team made it home in the eight. Heading into the ninth inning the Ravens led 9-8.

In a bases loaded situation with one out, the Yellow Jackets were able to hit a single to left field to bring in one run and tie the game up 9-9. The Ravens were able to get out of trouble on the next pitch with a double play. The Ravens walked away with a 10-9 victory when a Justin Reed was able to steal third and then make it home on a throwing error by the Yellow Jackets.

Evan Doan earned the win for the Ravens, improving his record to 3-1. Doan pitched two innings, allowing one run on three hits while recording one strikeout.

GAME TWO: ANDERSON 22, DEFIANCE 12

The Yellow Jackets started off quick and hot in the first inning of game two. Defiance quickly took a 5-0 lead over the Ravens. Although it wasn't as much, the Ravens were also off to a quick start with three runs. Hall-Manley singled to left field and advanced on a fielding error, Justin Reed and Sanders scored for the Ravens. Next at bat, T.J. Price doubled to left field to bring in Hall-Manley. The Ravens ended the inning trailing the Yellow Jackets by two.

Anderson tied up the game 5-5 in the second inning. The Yellow Jackets brought in zero runs in the second while the Ravens scored two. Willoughby and Brady Reed were both walked, putting them on first and second. A triple from Justin Reed sent Willoughby and Brady Reed home to tie it all up.

After a one run, top of the third inning for the Yellow Jacket, the Ravens sent that bats flying. Starting off the inning, Hall-Manley homered to left center field to take the lead for the Ravens. Over the next four at bats, the Ravens had a man on first and second with two outs. Bennie Day stepped up to bat, swinging and sending the ball into left field for his first career home run on senior day! Day's homer made it a 9-5 ball game. The Ravens loaded the bases as they made it back to Hall-Manley in the batting order. A walk to Hall-Manley sent home Sanders. Next up to bat again in the third inning was T.J. Price, who singled into left field. Casas Jr. and Justin Reed reached home on the play. On a wild pitch, Hall-Manley made it home, giving the Ravens their eighth and final run of the inning. The Ravens led 13-6 at the end of the third.

The fourth inning went scoreless for both sides. In the fifth, the Yellow Jackets closed the gap on the Ravens with a four-run inning, making it a 13-10 game. They continued with the offensive pressure in the sixth with two more runs. At the end of the sixth the Ravens held a 13-12 lead.

Jose Olivo took the mound in the top of the seventh and took the Yellow Jackets offense in a three-up, three-down inning. In the bottom of the seventh, the Ravens offense once again let the bats swing with a seven-run inning. Sanders touched home off a Josh Price double down the right field line. After an intentional walk, loading the bases, T.J. Price was walked, sending Justin Reed home. Furnish then doubled, bringing home T.J. Price, Hall-Manley, and Josh Price. After one out, Brady Reed singled, sending Furnish home. With two outs and a runner on first and second, Justin Reed was back up to bat for the second time this inning. Justin Reed singled down the left side as Brady Reed scored the Ravens final run of the inning. Ravens led 20-12 over the Yellow Jackets.

The Yellow Jackets had a runner in scoring position in the eight, but were unable to make it home as they ended the inning with zero runs.

For the Ravens, Hall-Manley singled up the middle and later stole second to get in scoring position in the bottom of the eighth. To end senior day in no other way, M.J. Furnish stepped up to bat and hit a walk-off, two-run homer into left field to give the Ravens the victory!

Clayton White recorded the win for the Ravens and his first of the season. White pitched 3.1 innings, allowing three runs on four hits. He recorded two strikeouts.

Coach Bair had this to say about Saturday's game: "[Saturday] was a great day for our seniors. It was a privilege to honor them and their families, and even better that we were able to secure two wins on their special day. I am so thankful for their contributions to this program, and all of the support they have received from their friends and family over the years. We are blessed."

The Ravens will be back in action Sunday as they head to North Manchester to take on the Spartans of Manchester University (16-17, 16-17) in a HCAC doubleheader. First pitch of game one is set for 12PM, with game two to follow.