Red Devils Drop Doubleheader to Lyon Despite Early Leads

JONESBORO, Ark. – The Eureka baseball team took on Lyon in a SLIAC doubleheader Saturday at Arkansas State University. The Red Devils dropped a tightly contested Game 1, 4-2, before falling 14-5 in Game 2.

GAME 1 – Lyon 4, Eureka 2

A four-run first inning by Lyon proved to be the difference as the Red Devils dropped the opener, 4-2.

Eureka jumped ahead early. Nickolas Cartmill (Fort Worth, Texas/Burleson) reached base and moved to third on a single up the middle by Joshua Frenden (New Port Richey, Fla./River Ridge). Cartmill then scored on a balk, and Mike Dunne (Bartonville, Ill./Limestone) followed with a triple to center to bring home Frenden, giving Eureka a 2-0 lead.

The Scots responded in the bottom half with a two-run homer from McCoy and a two-RBI single by Collins, pulling ahead 4-2 after the first inning.

In the third, Eureka threatened again with back-to-back singles from Cartmill and Frenden, but a lineout double play ended the rally. The Red Devils continued to put runners on in the late innings, including singles in the seventh and eighth, but couldn't capitalize as Lyon's defense shut the door.

GAME NOTES

• Mike Dunne delivered a triple and one RBI.
• Nickolas Cartmill went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
• Joshua Frenden added two hits and a run.
• Ben Perrine (Payson, Ill./Payson Seymour) tallied a hit, a walk, and recorded two assists at second base.
• Emilio Villanueva (Houston, Texas/Milby) and Kenyon Martin (Galena, Kan./Galena) combined for four scoreless innings of relief.

GAME 2 – Lyon 14, Eureka 5

Despite a fast start, Eureka fell in Game 2 as Lyon used a five-run fourth inning to pull away for a 14-5 win.

The Red Devils got on the board quickly. Noah Company (Le Roy, Ill./Le Roy) was hit by a pitch and scored on an RBI triple from Cartmill. Dunne followed with a single through the left side, making it 2-0. Lyon answered with one run in the bottom of the frame.

Eureka kept the pressure on in the second. Hayden McKenna (Sheridan, Ill./Marquette Academy) singled, and Ace Padilla (Castle Rock, Colo./Grayslake North) drew a walk. Conor Fitzpatrick (North Barrington, Ill./Barrington) then ripped a two-RBI double, and Cartmill added another RBI single to stretch the lead to 5-1. Lyon cut it to 5-3 with two runs in the bottom half.

The Scots tied the game with two runs in the third, then took control with four more in the fourth, making it 9-5. They added a run in the fifth and closed the scoring with three in the eighth.

GAME NOTES

• Conor Fitzpatrick went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.
• Nickolas Cartmill added two hits, including a triple, and drove in two runs.
• Mike Dunne chipped in with an RBI single.
• Hayden McKenna and Ace Padilla each reached base twice.
• Drew Danehl (Lansing, Ill./Thornton Fractional South) and Jake Steele (Monmouth, Ill./Monmouth-Roseville) each threw a scoreless inning in relief.

UP NEXT
Eureka returns to SLIAC action on Tuesday, April 8, hosting Greenville for a doubleheader at 12:00 p.m. at Henry Sand Field.