Hobart junior Christian Petry notched his team-leading third three-hit game of the season and junior Jackson Fowle launched a grand slam for his first collegiate home run, but the Statesmen suffered a 15-12 loss in non-conference baseball at McDonough Park tonight.
Petry was 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Fowle’s big blast was the first grand slam by a Statesman since April 5, 2023. Junior Evan Munuz and sophomore Connor O’Neil were both 2-for-3 with a double. Munuz also drove in two runs.
The top of the Alfred State order did most of the damage for the visitors. Connor Kiefer, Elijah Barinas, and Frank Grad were a combined 8-for-15 with four RBIs and six runs.
THE DECISION
- WP: Daniel Lewis (2-2)
- LP: Alex Frank (2-2)
FOR THE RECORD
- Alfred improved to 19-12.
- Hobart slipped to 16-13.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Trailing 2-0 after half an inning, Hobart promptly loaded the bases in the bottom half of the inning on back-to-back hit-by-pitches and a walk to bring Fowle to the plate. He was 1-for-8 in limited action this season, but drove a 2-2 pitch over the right field wall for a 4-2 lead.
- Hobart added a fifth run later in the inning when senior Owen Sanders’ ground out scored O’Neil.
- Alfred State took the lead for good with a seven-run third inning. The Pioneers only had three hits in the inning but took advantage of three walks, two wild pitches, a passed ball and a hit-by-pitch to build a 9-5 lead.
- The Statesmen trailed by at least three the rest of the night.
- Junior Drew Bolduc led off the bottom of the ninth with a pinch-hit double to right center.
- Petry delivered a two-out single to score Bolduc and get Hobart within three.
- Sophomore Sean Garvin ripped a liner that looked headed to right, but second baseman Caleb Walker made a diving catch to end the game.
STREAKING
- O’Neil extended his hitting streak to 10 games and reached base safely in his 11th consecutive game.
WEEKEND SERIES
- Hobart will return to Liberty League play with a three-game series against Ithaca this weekend. The Statesmen will visit the Bombers on Friday at 4 p.m., then host Ithaca for a doubleheader on Saturday starting at noon.
