» By TRENT SINGER – tsinger@my.apsu.edu

Spring break provided most students with the opportunity to slow down and take a break, but the Bat Govs stayed busy, winning all three of the Riverview Inn Classic games, Friday, March 2, through Sunday, March 4, and one of the Riverview Inn Challenge games, Friday, March 9, through Sunday, March 11.

During the Riverview Inn Classic, the Bat Govs defeated Youngstown State, 8-2, Iowa, 4-3, and Akron, 14-4.

Against Youngstown State on March 2, right-handed pitcher Ryan Quick allowed only one run through six innings. Accompanied by junior Reed Harper’s three RBI, the Bat Govs finished a well-rounded game on offense and defense against the Penguins.

On Saturday, March 3, the Bat Govs went into extra innings, winning 4-3 over Iowa. After falling behind, 3-1, the team rallied back to tie the game at three, forcing a 10th inning. In the bottom of the inning, sophomore Jordan Hankins ended the game with a walk-off single as the Hawkeyes fell, 3-4.

Moving into the matchup against Akron on March 4, third baseman Greg Bachman ended with two home runs and four RBI as the Bat Govs easily beat the Zips, 14-4, capping off a three-game series sweep.

Despite the team’s success, the Bat Govs struggled at the Riverview Inn Challenge, losing to Northern Illinois, 1-5, Dayton, 1-12, and beating Arkansas State, 10-9.

The Bat Govs played stifling defense on March 9 against Northern Illinois, as Quick allowed only one run through eight innings of pitching. The Bat Govs kept the score tied at one heading into extra innings, but failed to close the game out, allowing four Huskies runs as the team fell, 1-5.

The team continued to stumble against Dayton on March 10, after a seven-run fourth inning that allowed the Flyers to take an 8-1 lead. The Bat Govs ended the game, losing 12-1, while being outhit, 12-3, by the Flyers.

The team bounced back on March 11, with a 10-9 win in extra innings against Arkansas State. Bachman provided another key hit in the bottom of the 11th inning to give the team the go-ahead run to win the game.

The Bat Govs are now 9-5 and will begin conference play on Friday, March 23, with a road game against Southeast Missouri.

The team will host another home game against Evansville on Wednesday, March 14, before heading to Columbus, Ohio to take on Ohio State, March 16-18. TAS