Baseball Recap: Purcell Marian Takes a Loss

Purcell Marian extended their losing streak to four on Monday, dropping their season record down to 2-9 in the process. They took a 10-5 hit to the loss column at the hands of the Miami Valley Christian Academy Lions. The Cavaliers were not able to make up for their loss to the Lions from their previous meeting back in March of 2024.

Eugene Ingram and Sonny Ward stepped up to the plate in a big way. Ingram went 2-for-3 with one home run and three RBI, while Ward went 2-for-4 with three runs, two doubles, and one stolen base. That home run was Ingram's first of the season.

As for Miami Valley Christian Academy, they have been performing well recently as they've won six of their last eight matches. That lines up perfectly with their 12-4 record this season. The wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 9.6 runs over those games.

On Miami Valley Christian Academy's side, Evan Lafferty made a big impact no matter where he played. He struck out nine batters over six innings while giving up just two earned (and one unearned) runs off six hits (and only one walk). Lafferty has been nothing but reliable on the mound: he hasn't given up more than two walks in seven consecutive appearances. He was also stellar in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with two stolen bases, one triple, and one run.

In other batting news, Miami Valley Christian Academy got a big performance out of Luke Autry, who went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases, two runs, and two RBI. That's the most stolen bases Autry has posted over his last 13 games. Another player making a difference was Gavin French, who went 2-for-4 with two stolen bases, one run, and one double.

Both squads are looking forward to the support of their home crowds in their upcoming games. Purcell Marian will take on Western Hills at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday. The Cavaliers' pitchers better be ready for this one: the Mustangs have averaged an impressive 11.4 runs per game this season. As for Miami Valley Christian Academy, they will be playing in front of their home fans against Lockland at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday. The Panthers have struggled to contain batters this season (they've allowed 12.6 runs per game on average), something the Lions will no doubt try to take advantage of.