Batistatos Helps Fuel Purdue Northwest Baseball to Doubleheader Sweep of UIndy
Hammond, Ind. – Driving in two runs in game one and picking the victory on the mound as the game two starter, sophomore Alex Batistatos (Hobart, Ind./Hobart) had a big day for the Purdue Northwest baseball team in a non-conference doubleheader sweep of University of Indianapolis Tuesday afternoon at Albert’s Diamond Jewelers Field at Dowling Park in Hammond, Ind. The Pride took the first game, 6-1, and hung on to capture the 3-1 victory in the late game.
PNW got off to a hot start in game one scoring three runs in the bottom of the second inning to take an early 3-0 lead. Sophomore Evan Frank (Hammond, Ind./Crown Point) got the scoring started in the second inning drawing a walk with the bases loaded before junior Austin Kordik (West Chicago, Ill./College of DuPage/Community) hit a two-run single to left centerfield to extend the lead to 3-0. In the bottom of the third, the Pride doubled their runs scoring three more with one coming off a throwing error by UIndy and the other two off a two-run triple to the gap in right centerfield by sophomore Alex Batistatos (Hobart, Ind./Hobart).Â
The Greyhounds got their lone run in the top of the fifth with a hit batter with the bases loaded, but junior Jade Doyle (Greenwood, Ind./Ancilla College/Center Grove) came in and got the third out of the frame on a strikeout to end the threat. In his first career start, freshman Caden Bell (Hammond, Ind./HAST) earned the victory (1-0) pitching 4.2 innings and allowing two hits, one run (earned) and two walks with four strikeouts. Doyle threw 1.1 innings and gave up no hits, runs or walks with two strikeouts. Junior Brendan Kelly (Grandville, Mich./Muskegon JC/Grandville) pitched the final inning and allowed just a walk.
Purdue Northwest got off to another fast start in game two scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning off an RBI double off the wall in left field by freshman Kevin McCune (Munster, Ind./Andrean) and an RBI single up the middle by freshman Darius Kendall (Merrillville, Ind./Merrillville). After four scoreless innings, the Pride added another run in the bottom of the sixth on a bases loaded walk by sophomore Tyler Kenjic (Horbart, Ind./Hobart).
UIndy made things very interesting in the top of the seventh scoring a run on an infield throwing error and putting runners at second and third base before an amazing diving catch and double play by senior Mike Mikulich (Hebron, Ind./Hebron) at third base to end the game. Batistatos got the victory (1-1) as the game two starter pitching five innings and giving up six hits, no runs and no walks with two strikeouts. Kelly threw 1.1 innings of relief and allowed four hits, a run (earned) and a walk with one strikeout. Junior Joe Davi (New Lenox, Ill./Joliet JC/Lincoln-Way Central) recorded the save, his sixth of the season, getting the final batter to end the game on Mikulich’s impressive double play.
Purdue Northwest (17-18 overall/7-12 GLIAC) heads to Tiffin, Ohio, this weekend for a four-game GLIAC series with Tiffin University (Ohio). The first game is scheduled for nine innings and begins on Friday, April 27, at 3 p.m. CT at Heminger Field in the Paradiso Athletic Complex in Tiffin.