BOX SCORE
TERRE HAUTE, IND. -- Rose-Hulman Institute of
Technology relied on a two-home run performance and a strong
pitching effort to top Franklin College 10-2 in Heartland
Collegiate Athletic Conference baseball action on
Tuesday.
Senior Michael Kovacs (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller) blasted two home runs among three hits to lead the Rose-Hulman offensive performance. Kovacs recorded five RBIs with three runs scored, and became just the third Fightin' Engineer to record two games with multiple home runs in school history.
Junior Derek Dauenbaugh (Bloomington, Ill./University) contributed two hits, including a double, with two RBIs. Sophomore Donald Stopka (Grayslake, Ill./Carmel Catholic) also had two singles for the Engineers.
Other contributors to the Rose-Hulman offense included seniors Chris Stemple (Mount Vernon) and B.J. Zobrist (Eureka, Ill.) with two runs scored each.
The offensive performance helped senior Gannon Sadzeck (Crystal Lake, Ill./Central) improve to 2-1 on the season with a strong 7.1 inning performance. Sadzeck scattered eight hits and held the Grizzlies to two runs in the effort.
Rose-Hulman jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first on a two-run home run by Kovacs. In the second inning, the lead reached five 5-0 on an RBI ground out by Zobrist, Kovacs reaching on a throwing error and an RBI single by Dauenbaugh.
In the fourth inning, Rose-Hulman pushed the edge to 7-1 on an RBI double by Dauenbaugh and a run scoring balk. Zobrist pitched in with a single, before Kovacs blasted his second two run home of the day to cap the Engineer scoring.
Rose-Hulman improved to 21-12 overall and 11-7 in HCAC play, while Franklin dropped to 19-12 and 9-8 in league games. The Engineers return to action with a three-game home series against first place Manchester on Friday and Saturday.