Outfielder Michael Archie had a big day at the plate, driving in seven runs – including the game-winner in the nightcap of Miles’ doubleheader sweep of Lane Saturday afternoon at historic Rickwood Field. Starting pitchers Kolton Easterwood and Kody Long each pitched deep into their games to earn the win as the Golden Bears (14-9, 7-1 SIAC West) ran their win streak to nine games.
GAME 1 – Miles 9, Lane 5
The Golden Bears put up crooked numbers in four consecutive innings to open a big lead and Easterwood made it hold up through seven solid innings on the mound. Down 1-0 in the second, Miles got RBI from Peyton Caron and Kody Long to take the lead. Then with one out in the third, back-to-back singles by James Bitner and Jacob Bisharat preceded a 400-plus feet bomb off the bat of Archie. It was his fifth of the season – which leads the team – and gave Miles a 5-1 advantage.
The offense kept going against Lane starter Omar Thompkins in the fourth when Bitner drove in two more with a bases-loaded single. The Dragons would score three times in the top of the fifth but the Golden Bears got two of them back in the bottom of the frame. A sacrifice fly by Caron plated Archie and he came around when a single by Eli Snelson was misplayed in the outfield and Max Davenport scored from first for a 9-4 lead.
Easterwood (5-1) allowed seven hits and two earned runs over seven innings and struck out two. Drew Shackleford allowed an unearned run and struck out two over the final two innings to shut the door on the Dragons.
GAME 2 – Miles 7, Lane 5
Miscues in the field by both teams in the sixth inning led to an exciting finish. Miles led 5-3 in the top of the inning but Lane put runners on second and third with one out. A ground ball to shortstop was going to plate a run and get the second out. Dragons pitcher Malcolm Merriweather took off for third on the throw to first and when Bisharat tried to gun him down, the ball got away from Bitner and Merriweather scored the tying run.
But Miles got those runs back in the bottom half. With one out, Bisharat laced a double to rice center. Archie, who had already driven in three runs on double and a bases-loaded walk, singled to left. Bisharat was going to score easily but the ball was misplayed in left field and Archie motored around to third. The throw into third got away and Archie sauntered home with a big insurance run.
Tyler Allen came out of the bullpen and tossed a 1-2-3 seventh for his third save of the season. It made a winner out of Long (5-0), who allowed just five hits and one earned run while striking out two over six innings.