Rangers Stay Undefeated at 3-0

The Dayton Rangers swept a doubleheader from the Dayton Tigers at Greeneview HS on Sunday, May 1 winning the first game 7-5 and 8-1 in the nightcap.

The Rangers got on the board first as Josh Cawein belted a two-out two-run home run to right field for a quick 2-0 lead. Jeremy Marshall answered with a solo home run for the Tigers in the second to cut the lead in half at 2-1. However, the Rangers would plate 3 more in the third as Zach Carroll singled and Aaron Armstrong doubled before scoring on two fielding errors later in the inning. The Tigers fought right back in the top of the third with RBI singles from Ryan Smith, Matt Roberts, and Marshall to cut the Rangers lead to 5-4. In the bottom of the third inning, Carroll would double home James Robinson who also led the inning off with a double. Carroll would later score on a throwing error to make it a 7-4 game. The Tigers would score once more in the 4th to end the scoring for the remainder of the game. Both teams failed to register a run over the remaining 3 innings as the Rangers hung on to a 7-5 victory.  

Rookie Zach Carroll toed the rubber for game 1 and looked a little rusty in his first start as a Ranger. Zach allowed 7 hits and walked 4 in 4 innings. Ben Schooler followed up with 3 hitless innings of relief to register the win. Ajay Houston took the loss for the Tigers despite only giving up 6 hits and striking out 7 in 6 innings of work.

Joe Becker tossed a complete game eight-hitter in game two to pick up his first win of the year. Joe Staten launched a seed to straight away center for a solo HR in the first to get the Rangers on the board. James Robinson would deposit another solo shot to lead off the second for a 2-0 lead. A misplayed flyball in the third allowed Jonmarc Lippincott to score to give the Rangers a 3-0 advantage. Ajay Houston's RBI single in the fourth was the only run the Tigers could muster, as Ryan Smith scored after leading off with a double. The Rangers put the game away in the 5th. Cawein led off with his second HR of the afternoon. And with 2 outs, Carroll doubled. Armstrong doubled home Carroll. Joe Becker hit an RBI single. Clint Wolf singled down the left field line to plate Becker, and give the Rangers a 7-1 lead. Armstrong would add an RBI single in the 7th for the final score of 8-1.

Offensive highlights: Aaron Armstrong 4-7, 2 doubles, 2 runs, 2RBI; Joe Staten 2-for-8, 2 runs, HR, RBI; Josh Cawein 2-for-6, 2 runs, 3RBI, 2 home runs; Jelani Arnold 3-for-7, double, triple; James Robinson 2-for-7, HR, double; Zach Carroll 3-for-7, 3 runs, 2 doubles.

Historical Notes: James Robinson needs 4 more hits to get 200 career hits. Aaron Armstrong needs 2 more runs scored to reach 100 in the league.