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'Runners walloped in weekend
Pitching continues to be Metro's biggest concern
By Eric Lansing
lansing@mscd.edu

Metro’s baseball team got lit up for 45 runs as they lost all four games in their weekend road trip to Pueblo Feb. 23-25 at Rawlings Field.

Having only played in three games since the beginning of the season due to inclement weather, the Roadrunners’ pitching staff is still shaking off the rust as they gave up a bounty of runs over the weekend.

However, Metro head coach Bobby Pierce said there is no excuse for his team’s play.

He added that it didn’t matter if they had played in three games or 50 games, his team should be prepared to go out and play to their capabilities.

They gave up run totals of 13, 11, 14 and seven. Adding to their woes, Metro also committed 10 errors that led to 11 unearned runs.

To begin the four-game weekend, Metro took on New Mexico Highlands and started off well, taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning after center fielder Kyle Bowman doubled and later scored on a passed ball.

Metro’s starting pitcher Josh Eckert held the Cowboys scoreless for the first two innings but got roughed up in the third, giving up five runs on five hits.

The Roadrunners trimmed the 5-1 lead by two in the next inning as left fielder Jake Palmer singled to center field and designated hitter Josh Marner smashed a high pitch to left center field for his first home run of the season.

But the Cowboys put up another two spots in the bottom of the fourth inning to increase their lead to 7-3. Second baseman James Mayorga began the inning with a double and later scored when center fielder Nate Moore-Ness singled. Metro then relieved Eckert with right-hander Ted Jamison, who gave up one run in the inning on a sacrifice fly from left fielder Will Siegrist.

Pierce said Eckert needs to step up his game and become the ace of the staff. Eckert was named the No. 1 pitcher in the rotation for a reason and has to pitch well so the others can follow his lead. It could be a long season for Eckert if he doesn’t turn it around, Pierce added.

Metro came close to tying the Cowboys in the top of the seventh inning, while trailing 7-4. Catcher Reece Gorman singled and stole second as Palmer, who led the Roadrunners in home runs last season, took Cowboys right-handed pitcher Gilbert Palacios deep for his first round-tripper of the year.

However, Metro relief pitchers Jamison and right-hander Derek Colbert gave up six runs to the Cowboys in the seventh and eighth innings, extending Highlands’ lead to 13-6. Jamison gave up three earned runs in 3.2 innings and Colbert gave up three earned runs in 1.1 innings.

Although the Roadrunners’ offense seems to be on track, scoring 25 runs in the four games, the hurlers need to regroup.

Right-hander Braden Ham gave up 11 runs – 10 earned – in 7.2 innings pitched, right-hander Matt Backes gave up five runs, though all were unearned, and Jamison, who pitched in the final game against Colorado State-Pueblo, took the loss, giving up four runs – three earned – in two-thirds of an inning.

Although there were plenty of negatives in the staff’s performance, coach Pierce found some positives in a few of the pitchers. He said Ham only had three bad pitches all game and that right-hander Mike Bilek, who only gave up one earned run and struck out six, pitched better than any of his teammates had seen him pitch before.

The losses put Metro’s record at 1-6 on the season. The ’Runners will have a chance to rebound on the road against Colorado Christian March 2 and 3 in a four-game series in Lakewood.