Carterville – The John A. Logan Baseball team opened the 2021 season on a sunny February 3rd day and took home two victories over Morton College, 3-0 and 11-5. Game one, saw Logan cruise behind some dominate pitching, while game two saw the Vols capitalize on 10 walks from Morton to sweep the doubleheader. Logan will be back in action again next weekend, when Jefferson College travels to Carterville for a 3-game set.
In game one, Tommy Ray starting the year off right on the mound holding the Morton Panthers to only three baserunners over his five innings of work. Ray (1-0), the Louisiana Lafayette signee, would pick up his first win of the season, allowing two hits and striking out six during his start. Hunter Hoopes would come in and pick up his first save of the season, throwing two innings of almost perfect relief, striking out five, while walking one. Offensively, Logan relied on the long ball, connecting on three solo homeruns from Cody Jansen, and back-to-back jacks from Cole Christman and Anthony Herron. Chirstman would add a double, going 3-3 on the game to lead the Volunteer offense.
Game two saw the Vols offense jump out of the gates, scoring two in the 1st, one in the 2nd, and two in the 3rd, to jump out to a 5-0 lead early. Morton would fight back in the middle innings, cutting the deficit to 5-4 after a three-run 5th, but the Vols would answer back with a five-run frame themselves to push the game out of reach; highlighted by a 2-RBI double from Cam McMillan. Offensively, Logan would walk 10 times in the game and have eight different guys collect at least an RBI. Drew Winters and Cole Christman would join McMillan with a double, while Grant Trinkle would chip in with a triple of his own. On the mound, Tommy Henninger would get the nod to start. The Freshman would go 4 innings, allowing one run on three hits, while striking out four and collecting his first win of his career. Nate Thomas and Matt Moore would chip in out of the bullpen shutting down the Panthers in their inning of work apiece.