Simon Elfrink
Sports Editor
After a week of unplayable weather, Racer baseball finally got the opportunity to open 2021 with a double header against Lipscomb.
The series was originally set to begin at 3 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 19, with a single game against the Bisons, followed by a single game on Saturday, Feb. 20, and capped off with a double header on Sunday, Feb. 21. After all the inclement weather, two of those games were cancelled, and the two teams settled for a pair of games on Monday, Feb. 22.
The series resulted in a pair of losses for the Racers. While Head Coach Dan Skirka said losing is never in the budget, he and his team were most excited to finally get the chance to compete.
“The number one takeaway was that we got to play,” Skirka said. “That’s the biggest thing this time of year, and with the weather there were a couple schools that didn’t get to play. Just getting out there over the weekend is the best thing for us.”
Game One
The first game featured quiet offense from both teams early on. Racer starter left-handed sophomore Shane Burns got the start on the mound for the Racers, going two innings before allowing a run to cross in the third. The Bisons scored another run in the fourth as well.
Burns pitched through the fifth inning, allowing four hits and three walks, striking out one batter. Senior right-hander Jake Jones took over for Burns in the sixth inning, allowing four more hits and a pair of runs on the scoreboard over the next three innings.
Scoring came slow for the Racers, and despite stringing together several hits throughout the game to get runners in scoring position, the Racers were unable to put a notch on the scoreboard for eight innings.
“We had some opportunities, and it’s hard just looking at box scores,” Skirka said. “We hit some balls right on the screws that they caught. The center-fielder caught one on the warning track with two guys on base, the left fielder made a diving catch, they turned a couple double plays, the second baseman made a diving play. They made some plays when they needed to and we couldn’t get a ball to drop when we needed to.”
Down 4-0 in the top of the ninth, senior second baseman Jordan Cozart singled, setting the stage for senior outfielder Brock Anderson to hit a two-run home run to give the Racers a breath of hope.
Seniors catcher Tanner Booth and shortstop Jordan Holly reached on back-to-back walks to make the Bisons sweat, but Anderson’s homer ended the Racers’ scoring, and the game ended in favor of the Bisons 4-2.
“Pitchers are always ahead of the hitters this time of year,” Skirka said. “To get the offense going will be our focus going forward. The guys really did hit the ball hard and had some good at-bats, so we’ll build on it.”
Holly and Cozart each had a pair of hits in the first game. Holly also stole a pair of bases.
Game Two
Redshirt sophomore righty Jacob Pennington got the start on the hill for the Racers in the second game, but only for 3.1 innings. He allowed five runs to cross the plate, although only three were earned. Pennington struck out three batters and walked none, allowing three hits in his time on the mound.
The Racers had not scored when Pennington came out of the game, and Cozart had the Racers’ only hit.
Senior right-hander Alec Whaley came in to pitch the next 2.2 innings, allowing five hits and one earned run. Whaley also struck out a pair of batters. The last two innings were pitched by junior righty Nathaniel Gorczyca, who allowed a pair of earned runs on two hits and a walk.
The Racers’ offense continued to struggle, despite a two-out seventh-inning rally which began with redshirt junior infielder Wes Schaad doubling down the third base line. Schaad was then able to advance to third after senior catcher Alex Crump hit a single. A walk from senior infielder David Huddleson loaded the bases, but a flyout to right field ended the Racers’ rally.
Cozart, who had hit a single earlier in the game, doubled in the eighth, giving Anderson a chance to salvage the Racers’ offense. Anderson delivered in kind, blasting another two-run homer to right field.
Despite Anderson’s hot bat on the day, the Racers still last by a final score of 8-2 in the second game against Lipscomb.
Skirka was pleased to get things underway in 2021. Despite the overwhelming Lipscomb offense, he gave a lot of credit to his pitching staff for battling against a sturdy opponent. Skirka said the team did what they were supposed to do and he was glad to see them compete after not being able to face live batters in scrimmage for nearly two weeks because of the weather.
The Racers will get a short time to prepare for a game against Middle Tennessee on Wednesday, Feb. 24, at 3 p.m. in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
