The Marquette Redmen Baseball Team (0) Takes Tough Loss Against the Gladstone Braves (3) Thursday on Fox Sports Marquette 105.1 & 99

Marquette, MI – May 23rd, 2019 – After a bit of spring rain, the Marquette Redmen and the Gladstone Braves met on the baseball diamond for some late season action. Both teams were having successful seasons, but only one team could come out on top for the night.

The Redmen finish their warm-ups between innings

The first out of the game for the Marquette Redmen was a beautifully fielded ground ball for an easy throw to first base. Brendan Kaski recorded his first strike out of the game on a sweeping curve ball that was the second out of the inning. Eric Johnson made an easy catch in shallow left field for out number three of the first inning to retire the side. First up for Marquette was Johnson who went to a full count, but took a free pass to first on a wide pitch. There was one runner on first, but a fielder’s choice ground ball, Gladstone took the lead runner but missed the double play for the first out. Gladstone ended the inning after two quick outs from a strike out and a pop out.

Taking the field once again, the Marquette Redmen got a quick first out on another short pop up to the outfield. Kaski seemed to have some great movement on his pitches, forcing several batters to try and protect the plate and making them pop up the ball. Kaski struck out the second out of the inning on another wicked curve ball, but the Braves singled with two away. A close steal play at second moved Gladstone’s runner to base number two. VandenAvond fielded a ground ball that was hit directly at him for the third out of the inning, stranding one runner at second. After a free pass to first base (hit by pitch) for the first batter of the inning, a double play gave the Gladstone Braves some momentum in the bottom of the second. The last out of the inning was recorded on a ground ball to keep the game tied up at 0-0.

Kaski rips a pitch to home plate

It was a one-pitch first out for the Marquette Redmen when Gladstone ripped a ball back to Kaski on the mound who made a great stop and threw to first. Eric Johnson scooped up a ground ball and made a good throw to first for the second out of the inning. Gladstone managed to put a runner on first base due to a hit-by-pitch, but with two out, things didn’t look good. A pick-off attempt at first base that was overthrown advanced the Braves’ runner to second, inadvertently putting the runner into scoring position. Connor Steer ranged in from the outfield to make a catch at shoulder level to retire another out for Marquette. The first out of the home half was put away when Steer made solid contact with a fast pitch, but he hit the ball directly at the pitcher. Jake Allard-Soucey had an absolutely gorgeous drag-bunt that managed stay fair to put one runner on first. However, consecutive ground balls gave Gladstone the outs that they needed to finish the third inning.

Throwing a first pitch strike for the fourth inning, Brendan Kaski was still on the mound for the Marquette Redmen. Blake Henricksen didn’t have to take more than a few steps to make the first out of the inning on a line drive hit almost directly at him. Kaski caught a short pop fly for another very fast out, but another hit batter gave Gladstone a runner on first, once again with two outs. A blooping pop fly ball to shallow center field moved runners to second and third after a throwing error, and the Braves scored on a bunt from their next batter for an RBI single. Gladstone’s bats came alive, as Cole Hansen ripped an RBI for a double, adding more points to the Braves’ total. Marquette ended their opponents’ rally on a ground ball thrown to first for the last out of the fourth. After giving up a couple of runs in the top of the inning, the Redmen were ready to even the game as Henricksen took the plate first for Marquette, however a great change up pitch fooled him for out number one. Marquette recorded their second hit of the day on another beautiful bunt from Jake Peterson, and Jon Jason followed that up with a single to shallow center field, putting runners on first and second. The tying run was on first base for the Redmen, but Brady Wright fell on strikes after Gladstone threaded a pitch over the corner of the plate. A ground ball hit directly at the first baseman was all the Braves needed to end the side, stranding the tying run at second.

Getting some advice from the third base coach

Carson Shea lead off the fifth inning for the Gladstone Braves on a walk, and he successfully stole second base after a close play at the bag. With another runner in scoring position, Ian Schwalbach was hit squarely in the back with a curve ball, giving the Braves another runner. Kaski seemed to have lost a bit of control from earlier in the day after hitting three batters on the day. Brendan Kaski put one away with his third strike out of the evening that completely fooled the batter, leaving him nearly falling over home plate. Drake Forrest fell in Kaski’s second strike out of the inning, and the final out of the inning was a line drive hit directly at Blake Henricksen to strand two runners. It was another one-pitch first out on a line drive to the outfield, but Jake Allard-Soucey singled over the head of the infielders, giving the Redmen a runner at first. Eric Johnson continued to hit well on the night, following up with a single for himself, to put runners on first and second base. There were two outs and the tying run was on first base, but Gladstone made a great play on a hard-hit ground ball for the final out.

The Marquette Redmen still trailed 2-0, but a lead off double for Cooper Cavadeas was not the best start to the inning. A ground ball took a wicked hop and gave Jared Crow his second RBI of the game, and he made the game 3-0 for the Braves. The first out of the inning was a short pop up, but the Marquette Redmen still had plenty of work to do. Carson Shea hit a weak ground ball to the infield for a single, loading the bases for Gladstone. Brendan Kaski completely fooled the hitter for Gladstone who went down swinging for out number two of the inning. Blake Henricksen was getting a workout in center field, and he recorded the final out for the fifth in the top of the sixth inning on a high fly ball. The Redmen were down to three precious outs, but a fantastic fielding play by Zach Hanson reduced that number down to just two. John Jason was hit by his second pitch of the game, and that gave the Redmen a much needed runner at first base. Out number two for the Redmen came when a Gladstone outfielder made an incredible jumping catch on a hard-hit ball. Unfortunately, Marquette just ran out of time, and the final out of the game was a ground ball thrown over to first base.

Listen LIVE – The Marquette Redmen and the Gladstone Braves meet once again on the diamond Thursday on Fox Sports Marquette 105.1 & 99.9FM.mp3