On Sunday afternoon, the Rams (1-5) fell to the fifth-ranked Pacers of USC Aiken (7-0) by a score of 17-5. The Rams did not manage to win any of the games in the series.
Offensively the Rams scored five runs. Redshirt-junior infielder/outfielder Daniel Heleine launched a two-run homerun that brought in senior outfielder Ron Farley to give the Rams their first runs of the game in the fourth inning.
In the fifth inning, senior outfielder JJ Sarty hustled around third base and stole home after a fielding error by the catcher of the Pacers, Zach Moon, that scored another run for the Rams.
The only problem was, the Rams were down 12-3 at that point.
Scoring 17 runs off of 18 hits, the Pacers abused the pitching of senior pitcher John Bentley and company of the Rams. Moon blasted a two-run homerun in the third inning that made the score 5-0 Pacers just like that.
Earlier, in the second inning, fellow catcher Charles Padilla hit a double down the left-field line that drove home infielder Tyler Ammerman and catcher/first baseman Brian Parreira, making the score 3-0 in favor of the Pacers.
The Rams’ day was perhaps summed up best by a play in the third inning. Already winning 6-0, outfielder Jose Banilla crushed a triple to right field that cleared the bases as his teammates Padilla, Ammerman, and outfielder Nile Goings scored.
With the game at 9-0 at this point, clearly the Rams were deflated early on and not able to overcome their pitching mistakes.
Moon homered again in the sixth inning, which brought home infielder Daulton Weeks. This increased the score to 15-5 with the Pacers in control.
Much like they have shown thus far all season, the Rams again fell behind early and were not able to generate a comeback attempt.
Starting pitcher James Lynch of the Pacers received the win. With plenty of run support, Lynch went five innings, struck out four, walked two, and allowed three runs (two of them earned) on six hits). The Pacers rested him after five innings because after the offensive performance his team put on, they did not need him any longer.
In the loss, senior pitcher Bentley tossed three innings, struck out two, walked three, and gave up nine runs (five of them earned) on seven hits. It is an outing he certainly wants to shake off soon.
On Feb. 24, the Rams take the field again when they face West Chester in a 3 p.m. contest.
Anthony Bracken is the Sports Editor of The Picket. He can be reached at abrack02@rams.shepherd.edu