SPRING ARBOR, Mich. -- Spring Arbor (Mich.) University dominated play today in a doubleheader sweep over the Indiana Wesleyan University baseball team in Spring Arbor, Michigan. Scores from Saturday afternoon were 17-3 and 9-1.
The Wildcats received nice offensive production from the top of the order. From the third spot in the lineup, LF Craig Dollens tallied five hits while 3B Preston Fugita wrapped out four hits from the second spot. Dollens had a pair of doubles with one in each game while Fugita had a double of his own in the second game.
Spring Arbor (13-10, 9-1 CL) got out to quick leads in each game with big first inning production. In the opener, Spring Arbor scored eight runs in the first and then in the second game the Cougars scored five times.
Indiana Wesleyan (14-14-1, 9-5 CL) scored three runs in the fifth inning of game one to account for all their scoring in that game. The big hit in the inning came off the bat of leadoff hitter CF Quinn Nofziger with a 2-run home run.
Dollens was 2-for-3 with a run scored, RF AJ Harris was 2-for-3 and scored a run, and 2B Cam Screeton hit 1-for-2 with a base on balls. Justin Sovine took the loss as he surrendered 11 runs on 11 hits in 3.0 innings of work.
In the final game of the day, the only Wildcat run came in the third inning to cut the deficit to 6-1. With two outs in the frame, Fugita singled and then scored on a Dollens double down the left field line.
Dollens and Fugita were each 3-for-3 in the game and accounted for six of the eight Wildcat hits. Shane Bryant was the losing pitcher as he allowed nine runs -- eight earned -- on eight hits in 4.0 innings. Matt Blankenship pitched well in 2.0 relief innings. Only one Cougar reached base against Blankenship and he struck out two.
The two teams will come together for another doubleheader on Tuesday. This time the games will be at Wildcat Field in Marion with a start time of 4 p.m.