ESCANABA, MI - The Bay College Baseball Team (10-14-1) hosted the Northern Michigan Wildcat Club Team (0-1) on Saturday afternoon in their first ever home game. The Norse would score 11 in the first and cruise to a 28-3 victory.
Bay collected 17 hits and took advantage of 11 Wildcat errors in the game. After the double-digit outpouring of runs in the first, the Norse continued to push the lead, scoring six runs in the second inning. When all was said and done, 17 Norse players would step to the plate, with 11 different players collecting hits.
Flynn Morrison (FR, Melbourne, Australia) led the charge with three hits in five at bats, a double, four RBI, and four runs scored. Tyler Skufca (SO, Escanaba, MI) went three for three with a triple, three RBI, and three runs scored. Kyler Moir (FR, Hillman, MI) reached base in all five of his plate appearances, going two for two with three walks and three runs scored. Logan Bailey (FR, Sault Ste. Marie, MI) picked up two hits in three at bats and an RBI, while Riley Johnson (FR, Norway, MI) walked three times and scored five runs.
Six different pitchers would combine to strikeout 17 hitters. Skufca got the start and the win, as the team had a planned bullpen day. He would pitch the first two innings and strike out four. Bailey struck out five in two innings of work. Connor Olson (FR, Washburn, WI), Moir, Justin Popelka (SO, Escanaba, MI), and Ty Ziegler (FR, Hortonville, WI) would also take the ball in the game. That group would give up three runs, but all three were unearned.
"One of the things this team has struggled with this season is hitting with runners on and in scoring position, so it was great to see us get some hits right off the bat and bring some runs home," said Head Baseball Coach Mike Pankow. "We did some nice things offensively today that helped us take advantage of some situations. We did walk a few more than we usually do, and still committed six errors, so I really think that there were some areas where we can improve and learn from this game. We did not stay focused throughout the contest, and although it did not affect today's outcome, we need to clean those types of things up."
The Norse are on the road next weekend. On Friday they face Century College in a doubleheader that starts at 2 pm. On Saturday they begin a four game series with Dakota County Technical College. Doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday start at 1 pm. The first three games of the series will count toward a best-of-seven series that will determine which of the two teams will play in the NJCAA Region XIII Tournament. The final four games will be played on May 3 and 4 in Escanaba, MI.
Photo courtesy of Chloe Ziegler