Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

SOLON – In tight games there is often a statistic or two that tell the story.

In his team’s non-conference contest with Davenport Assumption on Wednesday evening Solon coach Keith McSweeney didn’t need to look at the scorebook to know that stat that stood out.

Solon struck out seven times, all with runners on base, and stranded 13 runners on base in an 8-5 loss to the Knights at the Solon Nature and Recreation Area.

“We did some good things tonight but I think a difference was with two strikes, they drove the ball into the gap or they fought a ball off and we looked at strike three a couple too many times with guys in scoring in position,” McSweeney said. “That’s the difference in the game right there.”

Davenport Assumption (18-9) overcame an early 4-0 deficit to win for the eighth time in its last nine games.

The Knights took a 5-4 lead with four runs in the top of the fourth inning.

Davenport Assumption then broke open a 5-5 game with a two-run double by senior designated hitter Isiah Rose in the top of the sixth inning.

Solon dropped to 13-10 on the season with its second consecutive loss.

“In the top of the fourth we couldn’t get that last out,” McSweeney said. “We were a pitch away a couple of times of getting out of that with a lead and then maybe we could start someone else with a clean inning and they put a good swing on a curveball and kind of blew it open.”

Solon took advantage of two Assumption errors and scored four unearned runs in the bottom of the first inning.

Junior catcher Carson Kidwell and sophomore Brady Wick each had RBI singles in the four-run Spartan fourth inning.

“We’ve had a lot of guys get better and we need those guys to keep getting better,” McSweeney said. “The best thing about underclassmen is they become upperclassmen.”

Assumption got a run in the second and then took its first lead with a four-run fourth inning that chased Solon ace Jackson Link.

Link allowed five runs on eight hits while striking out one and walking three.

Four consecutive Assumption batters reached with two outs in the fourth, highlighted by a two-run double down the right field line by cleanup hitter Nolan Dittmer.

Meanwhile Solon couldn’t get the key hit it needed.

The Spartans left the bases loaded in the first and fifth innings and stranded two runners in the third and the seventh.

Solon also had a runner thrown out at the plate as senior Ty Bell was cut down trying to score on a Nolan Seagren single after leading off the third with a double.

“Ty Bell has made a big jump at the plate and has done a lot of really positive things for us offensively,” McSweeney said. “He’s been one of those guys that’s made a big jump.”

Solon will host Center Point-Urbana (6-12) in a WAMAC doubleheader on Thursday and travels to West Delaware (11-10) for a WAMAC doubleheader on Monday.

“We are hoping to peak here in the next couple of weeks,” McSweeney said. “I feel like we are still climbing.”

Davenport Assumption               010  403  0  –  8  11  2

Solon                                                  400  010  0  –  5  10  1

W – Greyson Ballinger                       L – Jackson Link        SV – Bailey Alvarez

2B – SOL: Luke Merrick, Ty Bell. DA: Nolan Dittmer, Isiah Rose

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