Pizza Pub Wins 1 Run Game With Lions, Move To 7-5 (05/27/14)

(By Pizza Pub Manager, Jason Craig)

Pizza Pub won their second game in a row and improved their record to 7–5, with a 5-4 win over the Lions on Tuesday, May 27.

The Lions jumped out to an early lead as Nick Frederick started the game off with a solid single. Ryan Hummell sacrificed Frederick to third and Ben Smith followed with a walk. Logan Lerch followed with a double to right field that scored Frederick and Smith. Donnie Cunningham singled next before Ian Larson settled down and struck out the next two batters. In the bottom of the first, Josh Craig hit a ball to center field, that bounced over the fence, for a ground rule double. Nate Datko followed that with a solid line drive single to center that scored Craig. Breckin Rex made two terrific plays in center field that prevented the Pub from scoring more. After the first, Lions lead 2-1.

Lions kept their scoring going with a single by Frederick and a double by Smith that scored Breckin Rex, who reached on an error, and Frederick. Pizza Pub was unable to score in the bottom of the inning and Lions now led 4-1.

Leadbetter, for the Lions singled in the third, but the team did not score in the innning. The Pub got singles from Craig and Datko in the home half of the inning. Then, Larson followed with a big 2-RBI double to left center that cut the Lions lead to 4-3.

Craig took over on the mound in the fourth and retired the three batters he faced in 8 pitches. Frederick came in for the Lions and struck out the side, using only 10 pitches.

Lerch got the Lions going again in the fifth inning with a single. However, Milton McElravy caught a fly ball in right field and made an outstanding heads-up play, by picking off the runner at first, for a double play to end the inning. In the bottom of the inning, Craig picked up another single and scored on a triple by Datko. Datko also scored on the play on an errant throw to third base. The Pub got their first lead of the game, 5-4.

Datko came in to pitch in the top of the sixth inning for the Pub and went on to strikeout the side on 9 pitches to seal the 5-4 win.

Benny Smith and Nick Frederick combined to pitch an outstanding game for the Lions. Together, they gave up 7 hits while striking out 8 batters and walking only one.

Ian Larson, Josh Craig and Nate Datko matched the Lions pitching performance exactly, also giving up 7 hits, striking out 8 and walking 1.

Lerch (double, single) and Frederick (2 singles) had multi-hit games. Smith (double), Cunningham (single) and Leadbetter (single) rounded out the offense for the Lions.

Datko (triple, 2 singles), Craig (double, 2 singles) and Larson (double) provided the offense for the Pub.

(Thanks to Coach Craig for this article.)