NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (March 14)- The Saint Vincent baseball team split their first of two doubleheaders against the Newport News Apprentice School. 

The Bearcats (4-7) lost the opener of the doubleheader by a score of 9-5, before following that up with a 5-4 extra inning win in the second game of the doubleheader.

Game 1- Apprentice School 9, Saint Vincent 5

The Bearcats held a 2-0 lead after the first two innings, but a five run third inning and two run fourth inning for the Builders, along with scoring runs in th fifth and sixth innings was enough for the Apprentice School to down Saint Vincent.

Dalton Nicklow and T.J. Bucy led the way for Saint Vincent with two hits and one RBI each in the loss. Jacob Auld and Nolan Hurd both added a hit and RBI, while Alex Hess and Derek Hald both recorded hits for the Bearcats as well.

Jeremy Kreuzwieser took the loss on the mound for Saint Vincent, pitching four inning giving up seven runs (two earned) on five hits, while he also struck out three and walked three as well. Andrew Root and Garrett Knapp both tossed scoreless innings in relief for the Bearcats.

Nicklow got the scoring started for Saint Vincent in the top of the first. He ripped an RBI-double to right field, scoring Hald to put SVC up 1-0. The Bearcats added a second run in the second inning as Nathan Whiteman reached on an error, allowing Hurd to score as the Bearcats lead increased to 2-0.

From that point on, it was all Builders. The Apprentice School scored five runs in the third as the Bearcats found themselves trailing 5-2. Saint Vincent got one of those runs back in the top of the fourth as Bucy had an RBI-single that scored Auld to cut the lead to 5-3. However, the Apprentice School added two more runs in the bottom of the inning to push their lead back to 7-3.

The Builders added another run in the fifth to push the lead to 8-3. Saint Vincent chipped away in the sixth scoring two runs, one coming on an RBI-double from Auld and the other on a Hurd RBI-fielders choice as the Bearcats cut the lead to 8-5. The Builders added an insurance run in the sixth and shut the Bearcats down in the seventh as SVC fell 9-5 in the doubleheader opener.

Saint Vincent scored their five runs on eight hits, committing three errors in the loss. The Builders on the other hand scored their nine runs on nine hits, committing three errors as well.

Game 2- Saint Vincent 5, Apprentice School 4 (8 Innings)

Just as they did in game one, the Bearcats jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning and led 3-0 after three and a half innings. The Builders tied it after a three-run bottom of the fourth and took the lead (4-3) in the fifth. Saint Vincent added one run in each of the seventh and eighth innings, while shutting the Builders down to win the second game of the four game series in extra innings.

Six different Bearcats recorded one hit in the win. Kyle Belmont, L.J. Evans, and Whiteman recorded a hit and RBI each. Hald, Auld, and Nicklow all recorded hits as well, while Hald and Nicklow both scored one run each.

Alex Polito picked up the win in relief for Saint Vincent. Polito pitching two shutout innings, allowing just two hits, while striking out three Builders. Hurd started on the mound, pitching 3.1 innings allowing three earned runs on four hits, while striking out three and walking one. Eric Harris pitched 1.2 innings, giving up one run on one hit, while striking out one and walking two and Andrew Root tossed a scoreless inning in relief, striking out one batter.

With two outs in the top of the first, Evans ripped an RBI-single to left field to score Hess, putting SVC up 1-0. Hald then crossed the plate before Evans was caught stealing to put Saint Vincent up 2-0 at the end of the first.

After a scoreless second and third innings, Whiteman recorded an RBI-single to score Nicklow in the fourth, putting the Bearcats up 3-0. In the bottom of the inning, the Apprentice School tied the game with three runs and then added another run in the fifth as SVC found themselves trailing 4-3.

Belmont tied it up in the seventh with an RBI-groundout, scoring Dylan Schmude to tie the game at 4-4. Polito shut the Builders down in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to extras. Evans scored the winning run for the Bearcats as Whiteman attempted to steal second and Evans scored on the throw to put SVC up 5-4. 

Polito slammed the door shut on the Builders in the bottom of the eighth to secure the extra innings win for Saint Vincent.

The Bearcats scored their five runs on six hits, while the Apprentice School scored their four runs on nine hits, committing three errors.

Saint Vincent will wrap up their trip to Newport News with another doubleheader against the Apprentice School tomorrow, Saturday, March 15. First pitch in game one is scheduled for 12 noon with the final game of the four game series to follow after.