BENTON HARBOR — Host Lake Michigan College split a pair of Michigan Community College Athletic Association baseball games with Lansing Community college Tuesday.

The Red Hawks won the opening game 1-0, but dropped the nightcap, 12-3.

It was a pitcher’s dual in the first game, as neither team could score a run until the fifth inning.  Zachary Banks (St. Thomas, Ontario) took the mound for LMC and battled for seven innings, allowing one hit.

In the fifth inning, Brant Rago (Berrien Springs) ripped a single and Cole Searles (Brandywine) was hit by a pitch to move Rago into scoring position. Danny Mahoney followed a sacrifice fly, which allowed Rago to score the game’s only run.

In the nightcap, it looked like the Red Hawks were going to dominate, scoring the first two runs in the second inning. 

The Stars answered back in the third scoring three runs. In the fourth, Lansing pushed six runs across the plate, but the Red Hawks answered with a run of their own.

The Stars came back again in the fifth, scoring two and another in the seventh. 

Tyler Roberts (Barrie, Ontario) started the game and allowed six hits and five earned runs before Nicholas Frodl (Cedar Springs) took the mound in the fourth and allowed one hit and four unearned runs. 

Brady Duval (Brandywine) replaced Frodl and gave up three hits and two earned runs before Kyle Liddle (Saranac) was called upon to get out of the inning, allowing only one hit.

Marcus Bradford (St. Joseph) finished the game allowing two hits and a run.

Liddle led LMC with two hits and two RBIs, while Mahoney also had two hits. Searles added a single, with Dalton Riddle (Buchanan), Zach Grishaber (Brandywine) and Brady Reynolds (Centreville) all scoring runs.

The men hosted Muskegon Community College Thursday, for a Michigan Community College Western Conference match up.

Vs. Elgin Community College

VINCENNSES, Ind. — The Red Hawks traveled to Vincennes University and participated in a tournament where they faced the Trailblazers and Elgin Community College March 16-18.

Their first game was against Vincennes University in which LMC lost 13-5, even though they outhit the Trailblazers 9-6.

Banks worked the first three innings and allowed four runs, three of which were earned, and struck out one.

Liddle came on in relief for one and a third innings, allowing two runs, while Grishaber also took the mound and allowed two runs. 

Frodl worked two thirds of an inning, giving up five runs scored, all of which were unearned. Ryan Remus (Stevensville) finished the game and was able to get out unscathed. 

Damion Pompey (Edwardsburg) and Duval both hit home runs, while Searles added a double with two RBIs. 

The second game of the weekend was against Elgin Community College with the Red Hawks falling 10-0 in six innings. 

Howie Ewing (Ottawa Lake) started the game and allowed five runs, with two runs being earned. Bradford (St. Joseph) came in for relief and allowed five earned runs.

Chad Adkerson (Buchanan) led the team with a double and a single, while Pompey and Banks both had singles.

In the third game, Lake Michigan faced the Trailblazers for the last time and lost 14-7. 

Hunter Nagle (Ottawa Lake) held Vincennes from scoring for three full innings, but the wheels began to fall off for LMC in the fourth as the Trailblazers scored three runs.

Roberts entered the game and allowed three runs in the fifth, which brought another pitching change for the Red Hawks.

Riddle came in to relieve and Vincennes kept their offense going as it scored six more runs in the same inning. Grishaber came on in relief and the Trailblazers were able to score two more runs. Ryan Remus finished out the game and did not allow any runs.

Searles led Lake Michigan with two singles and two RBIs, while Bradford also had two singles and an RBI. 

Riddle and Mahoney both had singles with RBIs, while Pompey finished with a pair of hits.

The final game of the weekend was against Elgin, and the Red Hawks lost fell 13-5.

Rago started the game and pitched three innings, allowed 10 runs, with nine being earned, to go with four strikeouts.

Searles came in for relief and did not allow a run. Reynolds allowed three runs, all of which were earned before Nicolas Foote (Dowagiac) closed out the contest without allowing a run.

Banks doubled for the Red Hawks, while Bradford added a single and two RBIs. Liddle singled and drove in a run, while Mahoney also had an RBI. Pompey and Searles both finished with a pair of singles. Foote picked up a hit as well.