Ravens Power Past Green Knights in Offensive Frenzies

While hosting St. Norbert College Green Knights at Champions Field in Kokomo, the Anderson University baseball team picked up two victories on Saturday.

There was no shortage in runs on the day as the Ravens (3-4) picked up two huge non-conference wins. In Game 1, the Ravens defeated the Green Knights (0-2) by a score of 11-4. Then, in Game 2, the Ravens nearly doubled their runs as they defeated the Green Knights 20-11.

In Game 1, Tyler Smitherman went 5-for-5 with two home runs and six RBIs. During Game 2, Anderson plated 20 runs, tallied 24 hits, notched 46 total bases and smashed five home runs. Among Anderson's single-game records, Anderson tied for second in total bases, tied for fourth in homers and tied for fifth in hits. Jake Stank blasted three homers, becoming the fifth player in program history to do so and the first Raven since 1999.

GAME 1: ANDERSON 11, ST. NORBERT 4

St. Norbert kicked off the series strong in the top of the first inning. After getting a runner on second and third, Sebastien Dubois hit a triple to bring in both base runners. Dubois eventually made it home himself three batters later as the Green Knights quickly went up 3-0 on the Ravens. In the bottom of the second in a bases loaded situation, Anderson was able to get one run on the board when Grahm Reedy stepped up to bat and reached on a fielder's choice, Charlie Jones scored the Ravens lone run of the inning as they trailed the Green Knights 3-1.

The top of the third inning would see the next run scored when the Green Knights Adam Cootway scored on a passed ball. In the bottom of the third, Justin Reed began the inning with a single to left field. Smitherman stepped up to bat next and sent the ball into deep left field for a home run. At the end of the third inning, the Ravens were behind by one run as the Green Knights led 4-3.

Three and a half innings went by before another run would be scored. After a three-and-out inning for St. Norbert, Anderson's Smitherman hit his second homer of the game. Smitherman's homer brought in three runs to give the Ravens their first lead of the game as they led the Green Knights 6-4.

Another three-and-out inning for St. Norbert would quickly send the Ravens back up to bat in the eighth. After picking up one out early, the Ravens would go on to fill the bases with Connor Gordon on third, Stank on second, and Jones on first. Gordon went on to score as Justin Reed was walked. Smitherman then singled, bringing in Stank. In the next at bat, Justin Reed and Jones both scored off a Reedy single. Smitherman then scored the final run of the game off a Brady Reed single down left field, securing a Ravens 11-4 victory.

Smitherman recorded himself a huge game, going 5-for-5 with two homeruns and six RBI's. Reedy ended the game going 3-for-5 with a double and three RBI's. Anthony Costello (1-0) picked up the victory for the Ravens after pitching five and one-third innings, allowing one hit, and striking out five.

GAME 2: ANDERSON 20, ST. NORBERT 11

The runs only kept coming in Game 2 for both the Ravens and Green Knights. In the game, the Ravens were able to nearly double their runs from that of Game 1.

Both teams came out strong in the first inning, with each team putting up a three-run inning. The Green Knights got it started with a homerun by Issac Gerhardt. Cootway later scored off a Dubois double. Dubois later scored the last run of the inning for the Green Knights from a Luke Follmann sacrifice fly. Stank kicked off the Ravens turn at bat in the bottom of the first with a homerun into center field. After getting on second from a double, Justin Reed then scored off a Smitherman single. Smitherman was able to advance to third when Reedy doubled to center field. Brady Reed stepped up to bat next, sending a pop up to the shortstop, allowing Smitherman to score. At the end of the first, both teams were tied up 3-3.

A scoreless second inning would come and go before the Green Knights added on two runs in the third when Follmann single to first base, bringing in two runners. Anderson was unable to get any runs, ending the third inning trailing the Green Knights 5-3.

The top of the fourth saw the Green Knights add on two more runs when Nick Volz homered into center field. Anderson was then able to turn thing around in the bottom of the fourth to make it a tied ball game. The Ravens quickly filled the bases after two singles and a walk. Looking to turn things around, Gordon stepped up to bat and nailed a grand slam into left field to clear the bases. At the end of the fourth, things were all tied up 7-7 between the Ravens and Green Knights.

A scoreless fifth would pass for both sides before scoring action returned. St. Norbert brought in two runs in the top of the sixth after a Cootway triple and a Dubois single. Anderson then recorded another four-run inning in the bottom of the sixth. Justin Reed got the runs going when he brought in Jones from a double to center field. Smitherman followed with a single to bring in Justin Reed. Reedy then homered into center field, making it a 11-9 ballgame.

St. Norbert then had yet another two-run inning in the top of the seventh. Caden Uhlenbrauck and Devin Geary scored the Green Knights final two runs of the game. The Ravens had themselves yet another big inning in the bottom of the seventh. After picking up one out, the Ravens would get a runner on first and second from a walk and a single. For the second time this game, Stank sent the ball out of the park to extend the Ravens' lead with a three-run shot. The runs kept coming though. Anderson quickly got two more runners on the bases, this time occupying second and third. A double from Smitherman brought in both runners. Smitherman later reached home himself off a Jed Downham double down left field.

The final run of the game came in favor of Anderson as Stank once again homered for the Ravens in the bottom of the eighth inning, giving the Ravens their 20th run as they defeated the Green Knights 20-11.

Stank ended the game going 3-for-5, sending each of his three hits out of the ballpark. He also had five RBI's at the end of the game. Evan Doan (2-0) earned the victory on the mound, pitching three and two-thirds innings, allowing five hits, two runs, and one walk.

Anderson and St. Norbert return to action Sunday in Kokomo to close out their series at 12PM on field S3 in Champions Park.