Rockhurst (14-16, 7-11 GLVC) was able to take game one of the double header thanks to a complete game outing by Hawks’ pitcher Michael Lydon-Lorson in day two of the four-game series against Truman State (19-9, 11-7 GLVC) in Kirksville, Mo.

The Hawks jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the second inning. Senior Calin McCourt led the inning off by reaching base on an error. Redshirt senior Jake Jones followed by going with an outside fastball and hitting a laser through the right side. Truman starting pitcher Cody Gardner was able to get a 1-3 putout against the next hitter but Jones was able to move up 90 feet to second base.

With runners in scoring position, freshman Jeremy Lufft hit a ground ball to the shortstop trading an out for a run. With two out, sophomore David Stober plated Jones with an RBI single up the middle.

Rockhurst added two runs in the sixth inning to extend their lead 4-0. With one out, redshirt junior Blake Peterson and Lufft hit back-to-back singled. Junior Tim Mahoney entered the game as a pinch runner at second base for Peterson to put speed on the bases. Gardner retired the next batter and with two outs, seniors Patrick Burns and Caleb Baker each added RBI singles.

The Bulldogs answered with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. With one runner on the bags, senior Paul Trenhaile broke an 0-for-7 streak hitting a no doubt home run over the left field fence. With that swing, Trenhaile broke the record for most career hits Truman with 198. He also added another hit in game four of the series.

Lydon-Lorson then shut the door recording the next four outs in a row to end the ball game. He gave up two runs on six hits, no walks and three strikeouts. Lydon-Lorson’s effort earned him his fifth win as he moves to 5-1 on the season with four complete games. He lowered his ERA to 3.99 as he held opposing batters to a .231 batting average.

“Today, I was really focused on hitting spots and working both sides of the plate. [Jake] Jones called an outstanding game and I had confidence in everything he called,” Lydon-Lorson stated. He continued, “Truman’s a team that doesn’t strike out a whole lot and they will hit mistake pitches well, but if you hit spots and change speeds, they will get themselves out.”

In game two, the Hawks failed to take advantage of runners in scoring position as they lost 10-5 to the Bulldogs. Rockhurst outhit Truman 12 hits to eight and also left 12 runners on base. The Hawks also committed three errors in the game.

Sophomore Alex Merithew got the start on the mound for the Hawks in game four. The Bulldogs were able strike first, putting up a two-spot in the first inning. Merithew was then able to settle down retiring the next 12 of 13 batters.

Rockhurst cut the lead in half in the third after Stober led off inning with a walk. He then advanced to third base on a two-base throwing error on the catcher. Burns was able to drive him in after working a 3-2 count and fouling off a couple pitches before grounding out to the first baseman.

The Hawks tied the game in the sixth when Lufft lined an RBI single to left center plating McCourt. McCourt was put in scoring position with a single to right field by sophomore Seth Soto.

Truman answered in the bottom half of the inning, as Rockhurst was unable to put up a zero after scoring. They scored three runs on three hits and one error.

Not going down without a fight, the Hawks added two runs on three hits chipping away at the 5-2 lead. Baker led off the inning with a stroke to left field. Peterson added a base hit to right field allowing Baker to go first to third. McCourt then wore a pitch in the strap of his batting glove and was awarded first base.

Soto then drilled a ground ball down the third base line just past the glove of the diving third baseman for a two run single scoring Peterson and Baker. A pitching change brought in right-hander Chris Beckmann and on one pitch, produced a groundball for a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Rockhurst tied the game at five with a two out RBI single by Marr to right center. Burns singled to right center after two consecutive fly outs. He then stole second and Baker followed with a five-pitch walk. Running on the swing, Burns was able to get a good jump and beat the throw home by the right fielder Jarod Hahn. Sophomore Dylan Brauner came in as a pinch hitter for the lefty-on-righty matchup and shot a line drive through the left side into left field. Baker hit third base right as the left fielder Adam Gregorich fielded the ball and threw a strike to the catcher for the 9-2 putout to end the inning.

The Hawks then surrendered five runs on one hit and two errors to put the game out of reach. They also yielded two walks and a hit-by-pitch.

Zach Loeffelholz took the loss and moves to 0-4 on the season. He pitched 1.2 innings where he conceded four runs (three earned) on no hits, three walks and one strikeout. Merithew took the no-decision, as Rockhurst was able to tie the ball game.

Baker led the Hawks on the weekend going 7-13 for a .538 batting average totaling a .375 batting average on the season. He finished with four runs scored and two RBI while walking twice and reaching base on a hit-by-pitch. He also successfully downed two sacrifice bunts to help the team. Baker completed the four-game series with a .625 on base percentage.

Rockhurst returns to action Tuesday (April 7) and Wednesday (April 8) in two non-conference matchups against Lincoln (Mo.) and Pitt State before traveling to St. Louis to take on GLVC rival Maryville. The game against Lincoln will be in Jefferson City, while Pitt State will travel to Kansas City to play at Loyola Park.