Durant Baseball entered Spring Break with a 5-1 record looking to rebound after losing their first game of the season against Tampa Catholic. This is a neutral game vs Steinbrenner as it’s played at Tampa Catholic. Steinbrenner entered the game with a 1-5 record, currently sporting a 3-game losing streak.
Senior Tyler Macpherson got the start at pitcher for the Cougars and started the first inning off with back-to-back strikeouts, retiring the first two hitters. He then allowed two singles and a walk, loading the bases for the Warriors, but it resulted in no runs as the clean-up batter flew out to left field. Durant started the bottom of the first with a walk to leadoff hitter Nick April-Gath, followed by a bunt from Devin Suero, putting two on with no outs for the Cougars. During Blaine Rowland’s at bat, both runners stole their bases. Rowland and Chase Mobley both struck out, making it 2 on with 2 outs. Noah Morales clutched it up with a single up the middle, bouncing off the pitcher’s foot, scoring both runners, making it 2-0 Durant. Tristan Brown fouled out to end the inning.
Steinbrenner’s second was like the first as they got on base twice due to walks, got a single, and loaded the bases, but then the Warrior’s offense could not come through. They had a pop-out in the infield, followed by Macpherson’s third strike out of the game and a ground out to keep the Warriors scoreless, stranding bases loaded two innings in a row. Durant stayed hot on the bats as Jackson McClellan led off with a single. Jacob Purcell and Brady Kelley both got out on back-to-back at-bats, but Nick April-Gath got a single on a full count. Devin Suero started the game 2-2, this time recording an RBI single. Suero stole second, but Rowland grounded out to end the inning, Durant up 3-0.
It was a relatively easy inning on the Cougars fielding as Steinbrenner grounded out, got a walk but was caught stealing second, and a fly out to third on a quick 3 up, 3 down. Chase Mobley got his first hit of the day with a nice single, followed by a stolen base on Noah Morales following at bat. After a 10-pitch at bat, Morales drew a walk, showing fantastic plate discipline. Tristan Brown grounded out but both runners advanced. Jackson McClellan brought in both runners on an RBI single, extending the Cougars lead to 5.
To kick off the 4th inning, Junior Dylan Holtz stepped in to relieve Tyler Macpherson. Steinbrenner started the inning with a single and a walk, having 2 on with no outs. Steinbrenner hit a sacrificed bunt to advance both runners. The Warriors scored their first run of the game on an infield single, putting runners on the corners. They hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring another run, before grounding out to shortstop to retire the side. They now made it a 3-run game heading into the bottom of the 4th. Brady Kelley struck out to start the inning for the Cougars offense, but Nick April-Gath reached base on a Warriors error, helping him advance to 2nd. Devin Suero bunts it again and this time the pitcher overthrew it, allowing April-Gath to score while Suero utilized his speed to get to 3rd base. Blaine Rowand got his first hit of the game, an RBI single bringing in Suero. Chase Mobley struck out on his next at bat, but Rowland stole 2nd during the at-bat. While Noah Morales was up to bat, Rowland got picked off to end the inning, but Durant was leading 7-2.
The 5th inning was 3 up, 3 down for both teams as Steinbrenner flew out to right field, followed by 2 strikeouts in a row from Dylan Hotz. On offense, it was 3 straight ground outs from Noah Morales, Tristan Brown, and Jackson McClellan.
To start the 6th inning, Senior Brooks Brown entered the game for the Cougars in relief for Hotz. Brown’s error allowed the Warriors to get their leadoff man to 2nd, followed by a single, putting runners on the corners with no outs. Purcell had a throwing error for the Cougars that brought in a Steinbrenner runner. Brown responded nicely with 2 strikeouts in a row, followed by a ground out to get out of that jam, allowing just one run. Jake Purcell led off the Cougars with a single, Brady Kelley popped out to left field, Nick April-Gath recorded another hit with a single, having 2 on for Suero with one out. Devin Suero bunted again, getting out this time, but advancing both runners. The Warriors intentionally walked Rowland, making it bases loaded with 2 outs with Chase Mobley up to bat. Mobley struck out to end the inning.
Heading into the final inning, Durant was in the lead 7-3 and Freshman Tristan Macpherson entered the game, relieving Brooks Brown. On the first pitch of the inning, he got the batter to fly out. He walked the following batter but then struck out the 3rd batter to get out number two. He walked the 4th batter and needed one out to end the game and the Cougars get just that as Steinbrenner hit a line drive to first for the out. The final score was 7-3 with Durant advancing to 6-1.
Durant went 2-0 during Spring Break, defeating Alonso 7-0.
Durant’s next game is Monday at 7:00 PM @ Bloomingdale to take on the Bulls.
