Double header recap - Ice haulers sweep monarchs!!

Game 1 Recap:
After a well-deserved two days of rest, the Ice Haulers would take on the Michigan Monarchs in a double-header. Landon Smiddy (Sophomore, East Tennessee State University) took the mound for game one.
 
The Ice Haulers drew first-blood early in the bottom of the second inning. The third baseman, Mark Connelly (Sophomore, East Tennessee State University) would reach to second from a fly ball error to right field. Afterwards, the Ice Hauler shortstop, Jordan Andrade (Freshman, University of Nevada Las Vegas) would drive in Connelly with an RBI single.
 
Leading 1-0 going into the bottom of fifth inning, the Ice Haulers would obtain five insurance runs. The catcher, Braden Durham (Sophomore, University of South Carolina Upstate) would drive in a big run, hitting a shallow ball to right field. Then the big hitter, Drew Holderbach (Senior, Marietta College) came to the plate. Holderbach came into the game receiving last week’s Player of the Week award. Holderbach stayed hot at the plate, hitting a double to right center, driving in two runs. “The Player of the Week Award is definitely an honor. I am having a lot of fun with this team. I hope to stay hot at the plate, and we keep on winning,” said Holderbach. With two other runs coming from Monarch errors, the Ice Haulers would lead 6-0 after the end of the fifth inning.
 
Landon Smiddy would pitch a complete game, which was the first in Ice Hauler history. He would strike out four monarchs. He would also only allow four hits, two walks, and no earned runs. The Ice Haulers would take the first game with a final score of 6-0.  “It felt great to win the dual against Cook. The Monarchs are a great team, so it was great to go the entire game. I cannot forget about the impressive offense I had behind my back. They definitely played a great game,” Smiddy said. Landon Smiddy has now obtained his second winning decision of the season.
 
Game 2 recap:
After a big game one win over the Monarchs, the Ice Haulers were looking to complete the double-header sweep. On the mound for the second game, was Gino Sabatine (Senior, Marietta College).
 
The Monarchs would strike first this time, after an RBI double hit by their right fielder, Luke Tanner. Then, the Monarchs would find Gino’s number, after obtaining three more runs in the fourth inning.
 
During the top of the fourth inning, the Monarchs led with a single. Then, Sabatine would strike out the designated hitter, Briggs Rutter. Then, the Monarchs would hit into a fielder’s choice. However, with two outs in the inning, the Monarchs would rally. The big hit came from Nelson Padilla, hitting a two-RBI single, which would give the Monarchs a 4-0 lead. However, the Ice Haulers would not back down.
 
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Ice Haulers would strike back with five runs. Drew Holderbach (Senior, Marietta College) would lead off the inning with a walk, followed by a single by Mark Connelly (Sophomore, Lansing Community College). Then the left fielder, Jackson Green (Freshman, East Tennessee State University) would hit a five-hole error in between the Monarch first baseman’s legs, to drive in Holderbach. This would make it a 4-1 game, in favor of the Monarchs. Then, the Ice Haulers would get the second run off a wild pitch, cutting the lead in half. Afterwards, the right fielder, Chris LoCurto (Freshman, East Tennessee State University) would reach on base with a walk. Then, the catcher, Three Hillier (Freshman, Liberty University) came to the plate, hitting a fielder’s choice. The Monarchs would throw out Connally at home with the force out, avoiding any crucial runs. Then, Jordan Andrade (Freshman, University of Nevada Las Vegas) would have an RBI fielder’s choice, which would bring the deficit down to just one run. Finally, after Zach Campbell would reach on base with a single, Nick Mueller (Freshman, University of Nevada Las Vegas) would have a big two-out double, driving in Campbell and Andrade. He would give the Ice Haulers a 5-4 lead after his big hit.
 
The Ice Haulers would obtain two more insurance with solo shots hit by the left fielder, Jackson Green, and the catcher, Three Hillier.
 
“It felt good getting out of that slump. I have not been seeing the ball well. So, it was good to finally get a good barrel out of one,” Green said.
 
“We just got to keep doing what we are doing. The home run was big, but more importantly we keep on winning. We got to get on another big win streak,” said Hillier.
 
In the bottom of the ninth inning, the closer Grayson Thurman (Senior, Lynchburg College) would come on to the mound, after a strong eighth inning performance by the set-up man, Cal Johnston (Sophomore, Lansing Community College).
 
With a 7-4 lead for the Ice Haulers, The Monarchs would fight to get two runs from Grayson Thurman. Thurman would allow five big walks for the Monarchs. After all the walks given up, Thurman would finally strike the last batter out, as the Ice haulers would win 7-6 to complete the sweep. Gino Sabatine would get his third win of the season. Thurman would obtain his second save.
 
The Ice Haulers will be back in action to take on the Galion Graders at 7:00pm, at Sports Force Parks (Sandusky, Ohio).