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STEUBENVILLE, Ohio — Morgantown Post 2 swept Steubenville on the road a Saturday doubleheader, taking Game 1, 9-2, and running over their Ohio counterparts, 11-4, in Game 2.
Post 2 picked up the early lead in Game 1 with a solo run in the first and three runs kicked off by Jacob Kennell who stole home on error. Zach Owens then singled to send Avante Neal in from third before Aaron Forbes ran the lead up to 4-0 on a double liner to right field to put in Owens.
Morgantown would put up three more runs in the top of the fifth before Steubenville found room on the scoreboard, sending two home in the bottom of the same inning. Post 2’s defense held tight, allowing no runs in the sixth or seventh, while the offense tacked on the final two runs of the game in the top of the seventh.
In total, Morgantown’s nine runs came off 13 hits. Forbes led the team at the plate with a 3-for-5 performance while driving in four runners.
Steubenville was led by Blake Connelly, going 3-for-4 at the plate. In total, Steubenville had nine hits in their low scoring offensive show.
Greg Eddy and Tony Marsh split time on the mound for Post 2. Eddy, credited with the win, pitched 6 innings, allowing Steubenville’s runs on seven hits while striking out eight and walking five. Marsh closed the game in 1 inning, allowing two hits, one walk and striking out one.
Cassen Sutton took the loss for Steubenville, pitching 4 innings. He allowed five runs on seven hits, striking out and walking four.
Morgantown 11, Steubenville 4
Just as in Game 1, Morgantown opened the second installment of Saturday’s doubleheader by taking a hefty lead and playing lockdown defense for the majority of the game.
With a two-out count in the bottom of the first, Tony Marsh doubled to center field, giving Avante Neal an easy run. It was nearly a two-run double, but Zach Owens was caught taking home to close the inning.
Morgantown found the board again with another two-out count against them when Aaron Forbes singled to the sweet spot in center field to push in Neal. A following ground out for Marsh saw the third inning close with Post 2 up, 2-0.
It didn’t take long for Post 2 to split the game wide open with a big, six-run fourth inning. Cody Thomas kicked off the scoring drive with a sac fly, putting in Ethan Smith. Then, with the bases loaded, Neal singled in one, a hit by pitch put in another and the visitors methodically ran up the score after that. The drive ended with a one-run Marsh triple, and a ground out two batters latter would close the big inning.
Steubenville finally found the board in the fifth when George Ash scored on error by Domenic Colasante, but a following strikeout and double play after that put the home team back in the field. The Steubenville offense found more traction in the sixth thanks once again to Ash, who tripled to put in two runners. Quinn McCoy followed with a single fly to put in Ash, cutting the Post 2 lead
to 8-4.
Still, Morgantown was ahead plenty and added three more runs in the sixth. All Steubenville could muster in the final inning was two singles before Thomas, Colasante and Marsh turned a double and Jacob Kennell picked off a deep fly to end the game.
Forbes led the team in batting once again, going 2-for-4 at the plate logging three RBIs.
Jake Spearan pitched a complete game for Post 2 and was credited with the win, allowing 10 hits and four runs while striking out two.
Caleb Blaunt took the loss for Steubenville in 3 2/3 innings, allowing eight runs on 10 hits. He struck out none and walked three.
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