Campus News
April 12, 2022
Lucas sparks Lakers in AACC sweep
Sophomore homers in both ends of league doubleheader
Brandon Lucas homered in both ends of Monday’s baseball doubleheader and the Laker bullpen threw 9 scoreless innings as Garrett College swept Anne Arundel Community College, 4-1 and 9-4.
Lucas went 2-for-6, drove in 3 runs and scored 3 times in the sweep. His 2-run homer in the sixth inning of Game 1 broke open what was a 2-1 game at that point.
"I saw fastball and my eyes got pretty big," Lucas said of the Game 1 shot, which he slammed over the center-field wall.
"Brandon’s two-run homer in the sixth was huge for us," said GC head coach Eric Hallenbeck. "It gave us some breathing room."
Kelan Hoover (3-1) won the opener, striking out 11 while yielding just 2 hits and 1 walk in 5 innings after relieving starter Bradley Bozic.
"The first inning when I went in, [Assistant] Coach [Drew] Catone told me to stick with the fastball and I just stuck with it," Hoover said of his performance, adding that the success of the fastball "kind of boosted my confidence and helped keep me locked in."
"I think our pitching helped a lot," said Lucas. "Kelan threw a heck of a game – only 2 guys hit the ball all day and the rest struck out."
Chance Moore (2-3) was nearly as impressive in the nightcap, giving up just 1 hit with 2 strikeouts while pitching 4 innings in relief of Game 2 starter Dylan McCartney.
"Hoover and Moore were dominating," said Hallenbeck. "They pounded the strike zone and got ahead of hitters all day."
Elijah Hanible went 2-for-3 and scored twice in the opener as the Lakers (11-17 overall, 4-6 league) snapped a 3-game losing streak. Darrick Broadwater had a hit and drove in a run while Moore also had an RBI.
Zach Hallenbeck, Luis Rodriguez, and Patrick Bart also had hits for the Lakers.
Hanible, who went 4-for-7 in the doubleheader, collected 2 more hits in the nightcap, scoring 3 times and driving in 2 runs. Zach Hallenbeck also had 2 hits and 2 RBI, while Rodriguez went 3-for-4 with an RBI.
Brennan White had a single and scored a run, and Daniel Garcia contributed a run and an RBI as part of Garrett’s 9-hit attack. The Lakers were aided by 10 walks allowed by the AACC pitchers in Game 2.
Anne Arundel (8-30, 4-16) has lost 6 straight games.
The doubleheader was moved from GC to Hammersmith Hot Stove Baseball Complex in Cumberland due to poor field conditions in McHenry.
