Saturday the Dons hosted a doubleheader against the Falcons of College Park and many runs were scored with the Dons winning both games. Game 1 with a big win and Game 2 a walk-off hit in the eighth inning.  It’s a good day to be a Don! Read on for details…

Smith. Michlitsch, Martin, Beers and Terhar rule the hill for the Dons.

Game 1: Acalanes welcomed Branson Smith back to the mound after taking three weeks of resting his arm.  The Falcons were not happy to see the return of Smith. Smith toed the rubber for the Dons for the first three innings, allowing zero runs on zero hits, striking out three and walking one.

The  Dons opened up scoring in the first inning.  An error scored one run for Acalanes. Followed by two more runs in the second inning and four runs in the fourth. Falcons scored in the fourth inning, Dons 7 and Falcons 2.

The most exciting inning was the fifth inning.  The Falcons loaded the bases, putting the pressure on Dons defense.  With 1 out, a beautiful Falcon high line drive was hit, Christian Smario (second base) does a high, high stretch for the catch & a quick toss to Gavin Beers for the third out at second. WOW! Next up at the plate were the Dons with the song, ‘‘We’re Not Gonna This’ (Twisted Sister) playing, the Dons did not take it! The inning was full of action driven by walks by Riley Gates, Cody Michlitsch, Tommy Terhar, Gavin Beers, a few hits by pitcher and singles by Christian Smario, Reid Martin, Nico Roig, Branson Smith and Riley Gates for the team to collect 10 runs. 

Gates, Roig and Martin did some magic at the plate for the Dons

Contributing on the hill with Smith was Cody Michlitsch and Tommy Terhar to close out game one with the score of 17 to 3. Together they collected six strikeouts and controlled the game for the Dons. 

Game 2: The Falcons fired up the offense in the first inning with a sac fly that scored one run followed by a double to score another run. Falcons sent the message to the Dons, ‘new game, new energy…here we come’: Falcons 2 – Dons 0. 

The Falcons scored again in the third inning and so did the Dons. Tommy Terhar hits a double and eventually is scored by a hit by Branson Smith. Joey Martin hits to center for a sac-fly, which aided in Cody Michlitsch to cross the plate, Falcons 3 and Dons 2. 

In the seventh inning, the Dons need some action to stay alive. Reid Martin with a big bomb gets to first base. Gavin Beers also made it to first, followed by a sac bunt by Andrew Upp to move the Dons around the bases. Joey Martin hits a clutch sac-hit to score Reid and to tie up the score, 4 to 4. It’s not over until it’s over…

Roberts in left field, Samro at second base and Upp rounding those bases added to the Don Victories

Into the eighth inning, Kyler Roberts makes a big catch in left field to make the third out for the Dons with tension and excitement in the air.   Dons turn at the plate… with Tehar on third base with two out, Smith singled over short stop on the first pitch, scoring Terhar for the win, Dons 5- Falcons 4.

Gavin Beers and Reid Martin took control of the mound for the Dons. With keeping the Falcons on their toes with four strikeouts.  Both games were won by team effort, team energy and teamwork-100%. GO DONS!