Tecumseh boys split with Ann Arbor Skyline

A 5-4 loss to Jackson on Wednesday, May 7, may have helped Tecumseh’s varsity baseball team get focused for its following doubleheader against visiting Ann Arbor Skyline two days later.“We had too many freebies tonight,” said Tecumseh head coach Tom Bullinger. “Walks and errors lead to runs and we have to do a better job. It was a quality team in Jackson and it was an intense ballgame. I’m glad we played them tonight because those situations are tough to practice.”The Indians hosted Ann Arbor Skyline on Thursday, May 8, and won the first game 4-3 in nine innings but lost the second 8-4.“I liked how we got on base in that first game, but we had too many base running errors that took us out of having a chance for a big inning,” said Bullinger.The Indians’ starting pitcher, Phil Carey settled down after giving up a big three run home run in the opening inning of game one. He pitched eight innings and gave up three earned runs on five hits while walking three and striking out six.Nick Cowen earned the win with a one inning, one strikeout showing in the ninth. “Cowen did a great job in coming on in relief for the first time all year and throwing strikes and keeping them off the board,” Bullinger said.The coach attributed the win to a heads up play on the part of Grant Anschuetz who stole second base to put a runner in scoring position and said Carey had a real good approach at the plate for the winning hit.Sam Benschoter (1-4) hit a two run home run to tie the game in the sixth inning.Ben Vannatter went 2-for-4 while Anschuetz was 2-for-5, (RBI).Both Cowen and Carey went 2-for-5 at the plate.Cowen recorded the loss in game two after pitching two innings and allowing four runs, one earned, on two hits while walking two and striking out two.Both Trevor Willis (1 ip, 1 BB, 2 K’s) and Benschoter (4 ip, 4 runs, 4 earned, 8 hits, 2 BB, 4 K's) were sent in on relief.Vannatter, Anschuetz, and Azelton each had RBI singles.“We didn’t come out and play and use the momentum of the first game to get us going,” said Bullinger. “We had too many strike outs and too many errors in the second game that led to runs.”Against Jackson, Evan Eldred started the game and threw three innings. He gave up one unearned run on four hits while walking three and striking out three.Jeremy Hatfield recorded the loss after pitching three innings. He gave up one unearned run on no hits and walked three.Benschoter led the Indians with a 3-for-3 effort that included two doubles and two runs and an RBI.Alex Mukensturm had a double and scored two runs while Jeff Arnett 1-2, hit a two RBI single.The Indians’ are now 15-9 overall and 8-1 in the Southeastern Conference.Tecumseh was scheduled to play at home against Ypsilanti on Monday for Senior Night but the game was cancelled due to bad weather.