Lions Baseball Drops Two to Kouts

Kouts, IN - The Victory Christian Academy Lions were anxious to get back on the field Saturday after weather postponed four games over the previous ten days.  Unfortunately, sloppy defense, inconsistent pitching and dead bats doomed the Lions to two identical ten run defeats at the hands of the host Kouts Mustangs.

Austin Thomas (1-2) started game one for the Lions (4-3), pitched four innings giving up eleven earned runs on ten hits while walking 5 and striking out two.  Max Everaert went the distance for the Mustangs (7-6), pitching five innings, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk.  Everaert also struck out eight and hit a batter.

The Lions opened the scoring with a single run in the first inning off of hits from Austin Thomas and Nick Schrader.  Kouts took advantage of early wildness from Thomas and miscues from the Lions defense to post four runs in the bottom half of the first on just a single hit.  That would be all Kouts would need as they limited the Lions to one more run in the third inning while posting eight runs in their half of the next three innings for the final tally of 12-2.

Jake Keough had a double and two singles, scored two runs and knocked in one while Andrew Birky had two hits and three RBI for the Mustangs.

Austin Thomas and Calvin Reisinger each scored for the Lions.  Thomas also had two of the Lions four hits.

The Lions looked to rebound in game two of the double header with the Mustangs' ace done for the day.  Things looked promising at first with the Lions and Mustangs fighting to a 2-2 tie through three innings.  The Mustangs added two additional runs in the fourth taking a 4-2 lead.  Matt Morgart and Lance Basso ignited a five run barrage with back to back home runs to start their half of the fifth inning.  Kouts added three runs in the bottom of the sixth to close out Lions with the final tally of 12-2.

Justin Reisinger started and pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing eight earned runs off of eleven hits, striking out three and walking two.  Nick Schrader and Evan Longhi pitched the final inning and a third, combining to allow three runs off of two hits.

Jon Frame started for the Mustangs and gave up the Lions two runs.  Andrew Birky pitched three shutout inning for the win and Jake Moore pitched a scoreless sixth to close things out for the Mustangs.

Morgart and Basso each had two hits, including a home run.  Keough, Everaert, Roney and Taylor also added two hits each for the Mustangs.

(Box Scores to follow)