The baseball team began 2010 with three losses.
Two of those came by just one run, as the team competed at the Service Academy Spring Classic in Millington, Tenn.
In the first game, the Pittsburgh Panthers avenged last season’s opening loss to the Braves by winning 3-2. The Braves beat Pittsburgh 9-8 in 10 innings in the opening round of the Service Academy Spring Classic last year.
In the top of the third inning, Bradley struck first. Senior infielder Matt Fritz was hit by a pitch and then stole second before being singled home by junior outfielder Brian Martin.
An inning later the Braves added another run to their lead when sophomore infielder Rob Elliot doubled to start the inning. Freshman outfielder Mike Tauchman sacrificed Elliot to third and the Pittsburgh catcher overthrew third in a failed pickoff attempt allowing Elliot to score, giving Bradley a 2-0 lead.
The Panthers answered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth, settling the game-ending score of 3-2.
The Braves had two runners on in the ninth inning but could not score.
In their second game of the classic, the team lost to Toledo 13-6.
Bradley never led, giving up six runs in the first inning. After trailing 12-2 through six and half innings, the Braves scored four runs in the seventh inning to avoid the mercy rule.
Sophomore outfielder Brad Kimball began the inning with a leadoff home run. The team then loaded the bases on two singles and a walk. Fritz scored on a fielder’s choice and Tauchman doubled home two runs.
The Braves ended the weekend in extra innings with a 3-2 loss to Memphis.
The Tigers took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning and the score stood for seven more innings. In the eighth, Tauchman doubled and scored on a throwing error to make it a 2-1 game.
In the ninth, senior first baseman Mike McMillian led off the inning with his third single of the game. He then advanced to second base on a throwing error.
Freshman infielder Jason Leblebijian pinch ran for McMillian. He advanced to third on a fielder’s choice before scoring to tie the game on a sacrifice fly to left field.
The Braves were held scoreless in the 10th inning and Memphis capitalized with a run to win 3-2.
Head baseball coach Elvis Dominguez said he was pleased with how such a young team did in its first three games of the season.
“I was very pleased with how they played,” Dominguez said. “We have such a young team. Only two seniors have seen significant playing time in their careers.”
“We are starting six freshmen and with freshmen you don’t always know what you’re getting,” he said.
“These freshmen are highly touted and depending on how fast they adjust will determine how well we do this season,” Dominguez said.
