CLINTON, Iowa - Ashford University's baseball team opened Midwest Collegiate Conference play with a pair of losses to Iowa Wesleyan College at Camanche High School, 9-5 and 19-1. The Saints' season record slipped to 5-9 (0-2 MCC) while Iowa Wesleyan improved to 17-10 (2-0) on the year.
"I was pleased with the run production we had in the first game," said Ashford Head Coach John Govek. "We hit the ball hard, but we need to cut down on our strikeouts."
Fans filled the bleachers and lined the right and left field fences at the confines of Camanche High School on a sunny Saturday in Ashford's home opener.The Saints' regular home venue, Alliant Energy Field, was deemed unplayable.
Ashford was without the services of leadoff hitter and center fielder Jordan Wakeley, a gametime decision from bruised ribs suffered earlier this week at Hannibal-LaGrange. Add sophomore Brandon Van Blaricome to the infirmary report, who left in the sixth inning with an MCL sprain after a collison at second base.
Both offenses were on display in the opener, combining for 18 hits and five home runs.
Saints' left-handed freshman Mitch Jankowski (1-1) took the loss, allowing 11 hits in 6 2/3 innings, but Ashford showed resilency after falling behind 4-1 in the bottom half of the fourth.
"I thought Mitch did great in his first collegiate start," added Govek. "He kept us in the game until the very end. Iowa Wesleyan is a solid offensive team and we needed to work to minimize the damage on the mound."
A pair of Ashford miscues in the field led to Iowa Wesleyan's fourth run, but the Saints rallied to tie in their half of the inning in one big swing by sophomore outfielder Anthony Misitano.
Misitano broke out of a 1-for-15 season slump (.065) with his first home run of the year, a towering three-run shot over the center-field fence. AU catcher Scott Schmitt added a solo shot in the seventh, his first of the season.
IWC's Jay Olson poked a two-out RBI single off Jankowski to give the Tigers a 5-4 lead in the fifth and dealt the final blow with a three-run blast in the top of the seventh frame.
The Tigers' Justin DeVoe hurled a 16-strikeout gem to earn the win.
Ashford jumped out early in the second game with a 1-0 lead off the bat from third baseman Brian Cummings in the first inning, his second of the year. A four-run second frame from Iowa Wesleyan quickly put the game out of reach as the Tigers tacked on six more in the third.
Iowa Wesleyan's Roderick Barcelo blasted three home runs -- four total in the two games -- keying a 14-hit Tigers' offensive attack. Barcelo drove in a career-high eight runs while three other IWC hitters went yard.
"I've never had a game like that in my life," said Barcelo afterward. "I haven't had that great of a season and I really hope that I can keep getting better after today."
Conference action between the two schools continues tomorrow afternoon at Camanche High School for another doubleheader with the first pitch scheduled at noon.
