NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (Mar. 17)- The Saint Vincent baseball team opened up their four-game weekend series with the Apprentice School, falling in both games of the doubleheader by scores of 5-3 in game one and 6-5 in game two.
 
GAME ONE- Apprentice School 5, Saint Vincent 3

Despite an early 2-0 lead the Bearcats gave up four runs in the third inning as the Apprentice School took game one by a final score of 5-3.
 
Jeremy Kreuzwieser had yet another strong start for the Bearcats on the mound. Kreuzwieser who falls to 2-1 on the year pitched 5.2 innings, giving up five runs, only one earned run on six hits, while striking out three and walking three batters as well.
 
Jordan Sabol was strong in the leadoff position for SVC going 2-3 with an RBI triple in the seventh inning, while also walking once as well. Vincent Amatucci, Billy Perroz, and Alex Hess all recorded one hit for the Bearcats in game one. Amatucci also knocked in the first run of the game for SVC on an RBI single in the top of the first inning.
 
In the first inning, after Sabol led off with an infield single to lead off the game, he was caught stealing in the next at bat. Jimmy Davis followed Sabol's caught stealing, reaching first on a fielder error by the centerfielder and advanced to second on the play.
 
That's when Amatucci gave the Bearcats the early lead as he knocked a single through the right side, scoring Davis as SVC took a 1-0 lead and that would remain the score heading into the second inning.
 
In the second inning, the Bearcats got on the board once again. Kyle Belmont led off the inning with a walk and Connor Bannias was hit by a pitch and Saint Vincent was in business with runners on first and second and no one out.
 
After Saint Vincent grounded into a double play, Belmont advanced to third and was knocked by Hess' RBI-single to give the Bearcats a 2-0 lead. Both the Bearcats and Builders shut each other down in the bottom of the second and top of the third as the game headed to the bottom of the third with SVC still holding a 2-0 lead.
 
The Bearcats made a couple of errors that led to three unearned runs by the Builders in the bottom of the third as The Apprentice School took a 3-2 lead. Over the next two innings the pitching was dominant by both teams as the score remained 3-2 heading into the sixth inning.
 
The Bearcats threatened to tie the game, getting a runner in scoring position in the top of the sixth but the threat was diminished by the Builders as Saint Vincent still trailed 3-2. After a couple of hits the Builders added a couple of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth and the Bearcats trailed 5-2 heading into the seventh inning.
 
In the seventh inning L.J. Evans pinch hit and reached base on a walk. Sabol then laced an RBI triple into the right center gap to cut the Builders lead to 5-3 but it was too little too late as Sabol was stranded at third and the Builders sealed the game one win.
 
As a team Saint Vincent scored three runs on five hits, while making one error. The Bearcats also left five runners on base in the game one loss. The Builders had six different players record hits in the win over the Bearcats.
 
GAME TWO- Apprentice School 6, Saint Vincent 5

The Apprentice School opened up to an early 3-0 lead, but the Bearcats answered scoring five runs in the third inning to take a 5-3 lead. The Builders answered scoring one run in each of the fifth, sixth, and closed it out with a walk-off RBI in the seventh inning.
 
Perroz had another big game at the plate, going 1-3 with three RBI's and one run scored. Derek Hald went 1-4 with one RBI and one run scored in the loss for SVC. Jayke Saiani added one hit and one RBI in his three at bats.
 
Bannias, Hess, along with J'Shawn Taylor, and Devin Bonine all recorded hits in the game two loss for Saint Vincent as well.
 
Sean McAleer started on the bump for the Bearcats, earning the no-decision in the loss. McAleer pitched five innings, giving up four earned runs on seven hits, while striking out two batters and walking one. Nate Davis took the loss in relief, pitching 1.1 innings, giving up two runs, one earned run on three hits.
 
After a scoreless first inning from both teams, the Apprentice School got on the board first in game two. The Builders scored three runs in the bottom of the second on a two-run homerun and RBI-groundout to take a 3-0 lead heading into the third inning.
 
The Bearcats erupted in the top of the third inning. Taylor led the inning off with a single through the left side and Bonine followed with a single of his own and Saint Vincent was in business with runners on first and second and no outs.
 
Hess dropped down a sacrifice bunt advancing Taylor and Bonine up a base and Sabol followed, reaching on a hit by pitch as the Bearcats loaded the bases with one out. Hald then came through with a single that scored Taylor and Perroz followed with a double that cleared the bases as the Bearcats took a 4-3 lead.
 
Perroz advanced to third on a wild pitch and Saiani singled through the left side to increase the SVC lead to 5-3 heading into the bottom half of the inning.
 
The bottom of the third and all of the fourth inning was controlled by the pitching and defense from both teams as the Bearcats still led the Builders 5-3 heading into the fifth.
 
The Bearcats were held scoreless in the top half of the fifth and the Builders plated another run on their second homerun of the game, this one a solo shot that cut the Saint Vincent lead to 5-4 heading into the sixth.
 
After the Bearcats were shut down in the top half of the inning, the Builders capitalized on an RBI triple in the bottom half of the sixth that tied the game up 5-5 heading into the final inning of the doubleheader.
 
In the top half of the seventh, the SVC bats remained quiet as the game headed to the bottom of the seventh still tied at 5-5. The Builders loaded the bases in the inning and won the game on an RBI single to right center, enter the doubleheader sweep of the Bearcats.
 
The Bearcats line on the day was five runs on seven hits, while also making one error.
 
Saint Vincent continues their four-game series with the Apprentice School in Newport News tomorrow, Saturday, March 18, with a single nine inning game. First pitch is scheduled for 12 noon on Saturday.