The Roanoke College baseball team is 4-3 after splitting a doubleheader with William Peace at Salem Memorial Ballpark Saturday. The Maroons dropped the first game, 7-5, but bounced back to win the nightcap, 6-5, as Salem’s Caleb Lingenfelter picked up a save.
A four-run fourth inning would carry the Pacers in game one. Roanoke added a three-spot in the bottom of the inning as Will Merriken singled and advanced to third on a PK Cocolis double to left. Cale Agee scored Merriken on a double, putting runners at second and third. Hunter Andrews plated Cocolis and then a Pacers error allowed Agee to score. However, Derek Roy came in for the seventh and recorded a 1-2-3 save.
Cocolis was 2-2 with a run while Merriken and Will Smith each went 2-4. Smith had a solo homer.
In the second game Merriken belted a HR to left to give RC a first inning lead. With a one run lead Austin Bansek came out of the pen to pitch a perfect sixth, striking out three. Bansek would start the seventh before giving way to Salem High grad Lingenfelter. The Pacers would load the bases but a strike out and ground out would end the game and give the Maroons the split.
Mason Staz went 2-3 win a pair of runs scored while Merriken was 1-2 with two RBI and a home run. The loss was the first of the season for William Peace, who had won eight prior games. The Maroons improved to 4-3 with the win.
Roanoke will begin Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) play on Saturday when the Maroons play host to Lynchburg for a double header at Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium.