Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

*Note: Box score data will be posted to keeneowls.com as soon as possible.

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – McDaniel College (Md.) scored 34 runs and pounded out 35 hits in 13 offensive innings, scoring four or more runs in an inning five times, as they rolled to a 21-6, 13-5 doubleheader sweep of the Keene State College baseball team at the Polo Grounds in the Owls' Ripken Experience opener Sunday afternoon.

Records

• Keene State:  0-6
• McDaniel:  9-4

How It Happened – Game One
After falling into a 4-0 hole in the top of the second, KSC clawed back within 5-4 after three mostly thanks to Nathaniel Hudson's three runs batted in, but the Green Terror immediately answered with four runs of their own and wound up scoring 16 runs in the final four innings, running away to a rout in a game that featured 13 unearned runs (nine surrendered by the Owls).  The bottom four in McDaniel's order combined to go 11-for-20 and drive in 15 of their 21 runs, including five RBI apiece for Connor Uhrig and Evan Scala.  Jake Smith had four hits, and McDaniel had seven for extra bases overall, including three triples.  Hudson finished 2-for-2 with two doubles, three RBI, and a walk for KSC while Brendan Eaton went 2-for-3 with a triple, RBI, and a walk, but the Owls' most productive offensive effort of the season so far did not turn into positive results on the scoreboard.  Joe Barter finished 3-for-4, and overall five different Owls had multiple hits as they finished with a season-high 13 overall.  However, KSC's defense bit them for the second consecutive game, as three of McDaniel's four runs in the second were unearned after a misplay in the outfield and five of their six runs in the fifth inning that blew the game wide open were also unearned after a pair of miscues within the first five batters.  At that point, eight of the 15 runs allowed by Keene State were unearned.  Down 9-4 in the bottom of the fourth, the Owls had a chance to stay in the game after Colin McKeon singled and Junior Santos doubled to kick off the inning, but an unconventional 6-3-2 double play and a fly ball to center quickly ended the threat, which in turn ended up being Keene State's last real chance to stay within reach.

Josh Beayon (0-1) started on the mound for the Owls and took the loss, allowing five runs (two earned), four hits, and four walks in three innings.

Ryan Martino (3-0) got the ball for the Green Terror and also lasted only three frames, allowing four runs (one earned) and seven hits while walking two and striking out three.  He picked up a win due to a predetermined pitching arrangement.

Keene State's 21 runs allowed were the most since April 3, 2019.

How It Happened – Game Two
Eaton hit a three-run home run – the first of his career – in the top of the first to get the Owls off to a very quick and much-needed start, but they still had very few answers for McDaniel's offense, giving up eight runs and eight hits, including three doubles, in the bottom of the first to fall behind by five runs.  KSC's lead was gone before they got an out as the first four reached.  Patrick McKeighan struck out Billy Wheatley looking for the first out of the inning, but four consecutive hits (two doubles, two singles) then followed as the Owls tumbled to a 6-3 deficit.  Shane Daly whiffed for the second out, but Joey Hubinger's two-out, two-run single punctuated the eight-run opening inning.  Keene State worked a pair of walks in the second but were otherwise sent down via three strikeouts, and ultimately did not generate much the rest of the way as McDaniel cruised to the sweep.  The Green Terror led 11-3 through three and tacked on two more in their half of the fifth on RBI base hits by Tyler Yohn and Austin Goudeaux.

McDaniel had 14 hits in all with multi-hit efforts from six different players.  Yohn and Goudeaux each drove in three.

Beyond Eaton's homer for the Owls, Mayer recorded an RBI double and Hudson his third two-bagger of the day and fifth on the season.

McKeighan (0-2) took the loss, allowing eight hits and eight runs with three strikeouts in the first inning.  Jack Lang struck out four in his two relief innings.

Jack Valentine (1-0) allowed eight baserunners (four walks, three hits, one hit batter) in four innings, but allowed three runs and picked up the win.  Ryan Gibbons grabbed a three-inning save, his second.

Around the Horn

• Hudson has a five-game hitting streak and is 7-for-15 (.467) at the plate this season.
• Eaton's four RBI in the second contest were a single-game career-high.
• KSC had won their last two meetings against McDaniel, one in Florida and one in Arizona.  Andrew Houde went eight innings and allowed one run in an Owls 6-1 win in the Sunshine State on March 16, 2018.  The Green Terror, a member of the Centennial Conference, have won nine of their first 13 games this season as they search for their first non-shortened winning season since they went 31-10 in 2016.

Up Next

• The Owls take on the University of Scranton (5-1-1) on Monday (March 14) at 9:00 a.m. in Myrtle Beach.  The Royals took two from Suffolk University (10-5 and 4-1), today and have won four straight.  It will be the first ever meeting between the programs.
• McDaniel plays Framingham State University (0-5) on Monday, also at 9:00 a.m.