Offense sparks late to lead comeback against SC4
Saavedra late inning homer gives Ocelots the win
March 26, 2023
On a misty afternoon at the Corner Ballpark on Saturday, March 25, the Schoolcraft College Ocelots (9-10, 2-1) were able to knock off the St. Clair County Community College Skippers (6-7, 1-1) by a score of 6-5. , the Schoolcraft College Ocelots (9-10, 2-1) were able to knock off the St. Clair County Community College Skippers (6-7, 1-1) by a score of 6-5.
It was another slow start for the Ocelot offense, only mustering 1 run until the sixth inning. That lone run for the Ocelots came in the bottom of the first when #18 Landon Kempainenwould single home Andrew Thorning, who reached on an error earlier in the inning. By the time that sixth inning came around, the Ocelots found themselves in a 5-1 hole that they were looking to crawl out of. Luckily, they found a little light when Nate Saavedra would blast a two run home run that would plate Mason Malysz, who had walked before Saavedra. Just like that, the Ocelots had life. They would get another run in the bottom of the seventh when Noah Felder singled to score Sawyer Pace, who, like Malysz the inning before, walked his way on. Just like that, with two innings to play, the Ocelots were only trailing by one. In the bottom of the eighth, Nate Saavedra found himself up again, with a runner on base, and repeated the same result of his last at bat. Saavedra would blast another two run home run, this time to put the Ocelots in the lead by a run heading into the top of the ninth. The Skippers would get the lead off man on by a walk, but then, #35 Luke Skaisgir would come in to slam the door closed with the tying run stranded on third base.
It was a rather quiet offensive day for the Ocelots, racking up only six hits for the contest. Sawyer Pace (2-4, 1 R, 1 BB), Noah Felder (1-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB), Mason Malysz (0-1, 3 BB, 1 R), and #22 Nate Saavedra (2-3, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 R) being the highlight of the game.
On the mound, the bullpen came up huge for the Ocelots. Philip Miller and Luke Skaisgir combined for 4.1 scoreless innings, 5 strikeouts and only 1 walk. The starter, Austin Smolenski, went 4.2 innings, allowing, 7 hits, 5 ER and 3 K.
