SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – Sophomores Brody Harris and Robert Cleary combined to throw 14 scoreless innings to lead the Spring Arbor University baseball team to a pair of victories over Bethel College on Saturday. The Cougars defeated the Pilots 1-0 in game one and prevailed 3-0 in game two.
In game one, Spring Arbor plated the lone run in the bottom of the second inning when freshman Conner Lengerich smacked a double to deep center field, driving in fellow freshman Jack Driscoll.
Meanwhile, Harris was cruising on the mound, surrendering just two hits through the first four frames. The southpaw ran into trouble in the fifth, however, as Bethel loaded the bases with nobody out. Harris worked his way out of the jam, though, by striking out the next Pilot batter before inducing an inning-ending double play.
Bethel (4-10, 1-3 Crossroads League) brought the go-ahead run to the plate again in the sixth, but an outstanding diving catch down the right field line by Lengerich helped end the threat and seal the win.
Harris earned his second win after going the distance for the second time this season. He allowed five hits while striking out four.
Cleary was just as dominant in game two, posting his first career complete game shutout while fanning a career-best seven batters. After giving up three hits through the first two innings, Cleary would settle in and not allow another runner to reach base, retiring 16 batters in a row.
Senior Nic Johnston would provide all the offense Spring Arbor needed with a two-run single to right in the fourth inning to bring in Tyler Baker and JP Maracani. The Cougars added another run in the sixth when Baker scored on a pinch hit single from Jeremiah Johnson.
Five different Cougars recorded hits in the game while Baker scored a pair of runs.
Spring Arbor (10-5, 3-1 Crossroads League) will return to action on Tuesday, Mar. 24 when it travels to Grand Rapids, Michigan to take on Cornerstone University in non-conference action. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m.
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