AUBURNDALE, Fla. - The #19 Kalamazoo College baseball team fell to Colby 12-8 to continue the Florida Trip on Monday (Mar. 25). The Hornets now have a record of 11-3 on the season, and the Mules stand at 9-3.

Scoring Plays

Kalamazoo jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, beginning with Cooper Mills scoring on a fielder's choice and an error on the Colby defense. Then another Mules error helped the other two runs cross the plate, with Tanner Hawkins and David Stechow scoring. However, Colby took a 6-3 lead in the third inning after two runs scored in the second, and another four touched the plate in the third. An RBI single, fielder's choice, RBI double, and a three-run home run were how the Mules scored their runs. 

The Hornets regained the lead in the sixth inning. After loading the bases, Bolton and Cam Kelly forced two bases-loaded walks to get within a run. Then, Mills came through with a big two-out triple that cleared the bases for three RBI and an 8-6 lead. Colby responded in the bottom of the inning with a two-run single and a run on a Kalamazoo error to take a 9-8 lead. That was the final lead change of the day as the Mules scored another run in the seventh and two more in the eighth for the 12-8 win.

Pitching

Ben Van Nes went five innings in his first career start, allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits and a walk with four strikeouts. Chase Cummins (1-1) took the loss after giving up three runs in the sixth inning on four hits. Blake Parpart threw the final two innings, allowing three runs on a hit and three walks with three strikeouts.

Hitting

Cooper Mills finished the day with two hits, including a triple, three RBI, and a run scored. Tanner Hawkins, Cam Kelly, and Alex Fenkell were on base twice with a hit and a walk. Ryar Rinehart and Lukas Bolton drew two walks each. Bolton and Kelly collected the other two RBI. 

STATISTICS

2B: Hawkins (5)
3B: Mills (1)
HR: none
RBI: Mills 3 (16), Bolton (12), Kelly (11)
SF: none
SB: Bolton (4), Hawkins (1)
BB: Bolton 2 (6), Rinehart 2 (4), Fenkell (5), Hawkins (4), Kelly (8)
HBP: Bolton 2 (7), Hawkins 2 (3), Newland 2 (13), Poeszat (2)
(Season Total)

Up Next

Kalamazoo will next play (RV) Augustana on Tuesday, Mar. 26, in Auburndale, Fla., beginning at 10 a.m.