V-Hawks Swept by (RV) Ottawa University

OTTAWA, Kan. – The Viterbo University Baseball team traveled to Ottawa, Kan. this weekend for a four game series against Ottawa University (Kan.), who were receiving votes in the NAIA Preseason Baseball Coaches Poll, but were unable to capture a victory, losing 0-11, 1-7, 3-11, and 3-6. The V-Hawks are now 0-8 on the season while the Braves improve to 12-5.

Ottawa would start hot in the first game, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first on three hits, and adding an additional run in each of the next three innings. The V-Hawks held the Braves scoreless in the bottom of the fifth, but they would return to score four more in the bottom of the sixth. Viterbo would not connect in their final chance in the top of the seventh, and OU would win 0-11.

Kendal Hofer would have the lone hit for VU and Spencer Hans reached base on a walk. Brandon Jaenke (0-2) would record the loss, striking out five batters in five innings, and Tyler Bryant (3-0) earned the win, pitching all seven innings and striking out 11 batters.

The V-Hawk defense started game two much stronger, holding the Braves to just 13 batters in the first four innings. However, OU would start to come alive in the fifth, scoring a single run on two hits. Viterbo responded in the top of the sixth with their first run of the weekend, a Hofer solo home run, but Ottawa exploded in the bottom of the frame with six runs, including a home run and a triple, leading to their 1-7 victory.

Hofer led Viterbo with two hits, and Chad Herrera and Blake Warner each added one of their own. Ryan Gill (0-1) recorded the loss with four strikeouts in five innings. Ryan Olchoway (3-1) earned with win with 10 strikeouts over six innings.

On Sunday, Viterbo would start on the right foot, as Warner's single scored Hofer in the top of the first, but Ottawa would tie the game in the bottom of the inning. Frankie McGuire's double scored Marcus Hornacek, and Remy Stern's double brought in his pinch runner, Ryder Mortenson. The Braves answered with one in the bottom of the second, but took a commanding lead with seven runs in the third, on six hits. Despite getting runners on bases over the next three innings, none would reach home, and Ottawa extended their lead in the seventh, with two more runs tow win 3-11.

McGuire, Hornacek, and Hans each had two hits for Viterbo while Ben Strassman (L, 0-1) and Anthony Sanchez each had two strikeouts. Flynn Ridley (W, 3-1) had six strikeouts.

In the final game of the weekend, OU had a pair of home runs in the bottom of the second, and after a Carson Trumpold RBI single in the top of the third, the Braves would score two more. Ottawa scored runs in the fourth and fifth to go up 1-6, but in the sixth, McGuire brought in Warner, and Conley O'Keefe sacrifice fly scored Hans. The rally would end there, and the V-Hawks lost 3-6.

Hofer, Hans, Hornacek, and Trumpold each had a hit and Kyle Burns (L, 0-1) had two strikeouts. Nolan Maldonado (W, 1-0) had six K's in 4.0 innings.

The V-Hawks take the diamond again on Saturday, March 4 in the first game of a four game series at Graceland University (Iowa).