By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
BUCHANAN - The Buchanan Bucks split a Lakeland Conference doubleheader with visiting Coloma Friday afternoon.
The Bucks took the opener 4-2, but lost the nightcap, 6-4.
The Bucks (7-9 overall, 3-5 LAC) won the opening game behind the seven-hit pitching of Aaron Koziel and Kyle Tracey.
Koziel (1-1) worked six and two-third innings before giving way to Tracey, who earned a save.
Koziel struck out five in evening his record.
Buchanan scored all four runs in the fourth inning. Coloma tallied its two runs in the top of the seventh.
Buchanan finished with just three hits. Jim Connors went 2-for-3 for the Bucks.
Brian Rogers took the loss for Coloma. Alex Garrod was 3-for-3 with a double for the Comets.
In the nightcap Coloma scored four times in the top of the seventh to rally from a 3-2 deficit.
Buchanan scored a run in the bottom of the seventh but could not over take the Comets (9-7).
Tracey took the loss in relief. Travis Reith started for Buchanan before giving way to PJ Pollock in the fourth inning. Tracey pitched in the seventh.
Jaime Page picked up the win for the Comets in relief of starter Garrod.
Koziel went 2-for-4 with a double for the Bucks, who finished with six hits.
Ronnie Simmons was 3-for-4 with a double for the Comets, who also got two hits and a double from Page.