NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (Mar. 13) — The Saint Vincent baseball team split the opening doubleheader of their four-game series on Friday afternoon against the Apprentice School.
 
The Bearcats lost the opener by a score of 4-2, before winning the second game 6-5.
 
Game 1- Apprentice School 4, Saint Vincent 2
The Saint Vincent College baseball team dropped a 4-2 decision to The Apprentice School Friday afternoon in the opening game of a non-conference doubleheader at War Memorial Stadium.
 
The Bearcats struck first in the top of the opening inning. After reaching on an error to begin the frame, Dylan Schmude advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt before Jacob Auld delivered an RBI single to left field, bringing Schmude home to give Saint Vincent the early 1-0 advantage.
 
The Builders responded in the bottom half of the inning. Jaeden Anderson reached base on an error and later came around to score when Justin Bradshaw lined an RBI single to right field, evening the score at 1-1 after the first inning.
 
The game remained tied through the next two innings before The Apprentice School moved ahead in the fourth. After a pair of baserunners reached, Anderson again delivered with an RBI single through the left side to bring home Landon Turner and give the Builders a 2-1 lead.
 
The Builders extended the advantage in the fifth inning. With two runners on base, Jackson Thomas drove a single to right center that plated both Justin Bradshaw and Jett Winslow, stretching the Apprentice lead to 4-1.
 
Saint Vincent attempted to rally in the seventh inning. Austen Hester opened the frame with a triple to left center before Schmude brought him home with an RBI groundout to cut the deficit to 4-2. The Bearcats would get another runner aboard later in the inning but were unable to push across another run.
 
Jacob Auld paced the Bearcats offensively with a pair of hits and an RBI, while Schmude also drove in a run. Isiah Petty added two hits, including a double, for Saint Vincent in the loss.
 
Game 2- Saint Vincent 6, Apprentice School 5
The Saint Vincent College baseball team earned a 6-5 victory over The Apprentice School Friday afternoon in the second game of a non-conference doubleheader at War Memorial Stadium.
 
The Bearcats broke the game open with a four-run third inning. Isiah Petty started the rally with a single before Brayden Macaluso moved him into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt.
 
Brooklyn Hicks followed with an RBI single to left field, and moments later Reid Rachwal launched a three-run home run to left, scoring Ryan Finniff and Hicks to give Saint Vincent a 4-0 advantage.
 
The Apprentice School answered in the bottom of the fourth inning when Jett Winslow delivered an RBI single to left center, bringing home Jaeden Anderson and cutting the deficit to 4-1.
 
Saint Vincent added to its lead in the fifth inning. Macaluso singled to begin the frame before advancing on a sacrifice bunt, and Dylan Schmude later lined an RBI single up the middle to plate Macaluso and extend the Bearcats' lead to 5-1.
 
The Bearcats pushed across another run in the sixth inning when Jacob Auld reached base and later came around to score on a wild pitch, making it a 6-1 Saint Vincent advantage heading into the final frame.
The Builders mounted a late rally in the bottom of the seventh inning. Jackson Thomas scored after Jaeden Anderson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and Seth Harrison followed with an RBI single.
 
 A fielder's choice by Winslow brought home two more runs, trimming the Saint Vincent lead to 6-5 before the Bearcats were able to close the door.
 
Jason Forgey earned the victory on the mound for Saint Vincent, tossing 6.1 innings while allowing three runs and striking out four. Jacob Auld recorded the final two outs to pick up the save.
 
Rachwal led the Bearcats offensively with a three-run home run, while Schmude and Hicks each added an RBI. Petty, Macaluso, Finniff, and Auld also recorded hits in the victory as Saint Vincent totaled seven hits in the game.
 
The Bearcats will wrap up the four-game series with another doubleheader against the Apprentice School tomorrow, Saturday, March 14. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 12 noon in Newport News.