Ravens Split with Tigers in Season Opener

Down in Sewanee, Tenn. the Anderson University baseball team split their season opener for the 2022 season with the Sewanee Tigers in a non-conference double-header on Saturday. The Ravens (1-1) picked up a 4-0 victory in game one and fell in game two 2-1 to the Tigers (1-1).

GAME 1: ANDERSON 4, SEWANEE 0

Leading off for the Ravens in game one was freshman outfielder Jake Stank. In his first career at bat, Stank started off his collegiate career in style, homering into deep right field off of the game's very first pitch to immediately put the Ravens up 1-0 over the Tigers.

The Ravens added on one run in the top of the third inning as Justin Reed singled up the middle to bring in Stank.

Anderson was quickly back to bat after the Tigers went three and out in the bottom of the third. After picking up one out in the top of the fourth inning, Tyler Smitherman stepped up to bat as the Ravens second hitter. Smitherman homered the ball into left field to put the Ravens up 3-0.

Two innings would pass before the Ravens got their fourth and final run of the game. Connor Gordon got on base in the top of the seventh off a throwing error by the Tigers. Gordon then went on to steal both second and third base to get the Ravens within scoring position. With two outs on the board, Stank stepped up to bat and singled through the left side, giving Gordon the space to score and put the Ravens up 4-0 and seal the Ravens' first victory of 2022.

Walker Stull kicked off the Ravens season on the mound. Stull threw four innings, faced 17 batters and struck out five while allowing three hits and two walks. Evan Doan (1-0) came in and picked up the win, finishing the last five innings while facing 19 batters. Doan struck out two while allowing five hits and one walk. Jake Stank led the Ravens offensively, driving in two runs and going 3-for-4 at the plate.

GAME 2: ANDERSON 1, SEWANEE 2

Game 2 was a much slower start for both sides, as neither team was able to bring a run in until the seventh inning.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Tigers were the first to get a run in. With a runner on second, the Tigers hit a single through the right side and sent their runner home to go up 1-0 over the Ravens.

Anderson wasted no time to respond. With two outs and a runner on second and third in the eighth, Justin Reed stepped up to bat. Reed was able to single the ball up to left field and send Gordon home to tie up the game.

Sewanee sealed up its victory in the bottom of the ninth off a single down left field and a runner on third. The walk off single gave the Tigers a 2-1 victory over the Ravens.

The Ravens used three pitchers during the game. Combined they allowed seven hits, two runs, and five walks while striking out four. Justin Reed brought in the Ravens only run. Grahm Reedy, Reed, and Collin Baer each picked up a stolen base.

HEAD COACH MATHEW BAIR'S COMMENTS

"I was very encouraged by our play [Saturday] across the board. Our pitching and defense were exceptional, and gave us chances to win all day. I was proud of our focus and I thought we competed and stayed locked in for 18 innings. The last game simply ended on a great pitch and an unfortunate ball off the end of the bat."

"In game two we faced a low 90's arm and battled. We will need to get better in two-strike counts as we progress throughout the season, but all in all I was happy with our play. Excited to come out [Sunday] and do it all again."

UP NEXT

Anderson and Sewanee face off one more time on Sunday in Sewanee, Tenn. The non-conference first pitch between the Ravens and Tigers is scheduled for 1PM ET.