SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – The Spring Arbor University baseball team moved into third place in the Crossroads League standings after battling for a 4-1 victory over the University of Saint Francis Tuesday afternoon at Hank Burbridge Field.

Pitching led the way for the Cougars as Gavin Harris, Duncan Patterson and Sam Memmelaar combined to allow just one run on five hits while striking out 14 batters over nine innings.

THE BASICS

SCORE: Spring Arbor 4, Saint Francis 1

LOCATION: Hank Burbridge Field | Spring Arbor, Mich.

RECORDS: Spring Arbor 18-17 (9-6 CL), Saint Francis 9-24 (6-9 CL)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Chris Triplett moved into the leadoff spot for Spring Arbor and proceeded to double to center to start the bottom of the first inning. Following a bunt single from Jack Driscoll that advanced Triplett to third, a sacrifice fly out to left field from Francisco Ondina got SAU on the board first.
• Already up 2-0, a two-run seventh inning was all the support the SAU pitching staff needed as they combined to go nine innings, giving up one run on five hits.
• Triplett had himself a day from the plate as he went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, two runs scored and a stolen base. Driscoll was no slouch either, going 3-for-3, all singles, two stolen bases, an RBI and a run scored. Vincent Herschberger also collected three hits on the afternoon.
• The real stars of the show were the SAU pitching staff. Led by the winning pitcher of this game, Gavin Harris, who went five strong innings, only giving up one hit, no runs, one walk and recording nine strikeouts. Duncan Patterson came in relief in the sixth inning, threw only 19 pitches in his two innings of work, giving up a hit and one strikeout. To close it out, Sam Memmelaar, pitched the final two innings, striking outs four.

UP NEXT

This Thursday, Apr. 12, the Cougars welcome the Lawrence Tech Blue Devils (20-14) to Hank Burbridge Field for a 4 p.m. first pitch.

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