Scotties Split with Johnson County

The Highland Community College baseball team played their first home conference
games of the season, splitting with Johnson County. The Scotties started strong and won
game one 4-1 before losing game two 6-5 in nine innings.

In game one, Justin Paul (Papillion, NE) pitched a complete game, allowing just one run
on five hits, while striking out six Cavalier batters. Johnson County took a 1-0 lead in the
top of the second inning on three straight singles. The Scotties responded in the bottom
of the inning, taking advantage of three walks and a hit batter to score four runs and
take a 4-1 lead. That was all the runs that Paul would need as he held Johnson County
scoreless over the last five innings on just three hits.

In game two, Johnson County took a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning only
to see the Scotties score three runs to tie the game at 4-4 and leave the bases loaded. Joe
Mancuso’s (Papillion, NE) two run home run got HCC back to 4-3. Jordon Oddo (Grain
Valley, MO) singled, followed by a double by Craig Hill (Morris, OK), and an intentional
walk, loading the bases. Royce Behar (Bartlesville, OK) was then hit by a pitch, plating
the tying run before a fly out to left field ended the inning.

Johnson County took a 5-4 lead in the top of the eighth inning on a throwing error,
only to see HCC score a run on a two out single by Craig Hill. Again the Scotties had
a chance for a walk-off win, but left runners at second and third. The Cavaliers then
got a lead-off double in the top of ninth inning, and after a sacrifice bunt moved the
runner to third base, they scored the winning run on a one out single. Andrew Mercer
(Newfoundland, Canada) pitched seven strong innings for HCC, getting a no decision.
Justin Paul had three hits, including two doubles, to lead Scottie hitters, while Craig Hill
had two hits and two RBIs.