Baseball Opens with Win in Ohio

ACC opened the 2024 season in style with an extra innings 3-2 win over Owens Community College, played at Sports Force Park in Sandusky, Ohio.

The Lumberjacks narrowly missed out on a sweep, losing 8-7 in game two on a late comeback by the Express.

"I was very happy with the way the guys came out ready to compete," coach Rob Enslen said. "We've got things to work on but I saw a lot of positives today."

High on the list of positives was the pitching. In the opener, Max Coughlin started and threw a strong five innings, giving up only three hits and one walk, striking out four. He gave up two runs, only one of which was earned. Aaron Guitar relieved and picked up the victory, throwing four shutout innings, giving up two hits and one walk.

The Lumberjacks jumped out early when Mitchell Walters singled to open the game and stole second. Nate Koster walked and both runners moved up on an Express wild pitch. Matt Thompson lofted a sacrifice fly to score Walters. Koster stole second and scored on a Caleb Stuck single for a 2-0 ACC lead in the top of the first.

Owens scored one in the third and one in the fourth to tie the game at 2-2 where the score stayed until the 9th when Evan Fairbanks hit a game-winning home run over the right-field fence in his first college game. Guitar retired the Express one-two-three in the bottom of the 9th to preserve the win.

Similarly in game two, the Jacks took the lead early with three runs in the third and three in the top of the fourth to take a 6-3 advantage. The Express scored one in the bottom of fourth. But in the top of the seventh, Fairbanks scored on a Brett Moroschan sacrifice fly for a 7-4 lead headed to the bottom of the seventh.

Owens rallied for four in the last inning, scoring two on a two-out double to right field to walk off for the victory.

On the day, Walters led the hitters with four hits, four RBI and three stolen bases. Anthony Filippis, Hunter Kosmerick and Stuck each had two hits. Stuck had two RBI and Fairbanks and Walters each scored two runs.

ACC will face Owens again today in another doubleheader at Sports Force Park beginning at noon today.