Baseball: Knights Climb Back Late for 6-5 Win

With+an+eye+on+home+plate%2C+pitcher+Jake+Granese+%2818%29+prepares+to+release+the+ball+during+the+teams+non-district+matchup+against+Lennard.+Granese%2C+who+pitched+four+and+two-thirds+innings%2C+helped+the+team+to+a+6-5+victory.

Photo Isabel Hanewicz

With an eye on home plate, pitcher Jake Granese (’18) prepares to release the ball during the team’s non-district matchup against Lennard. Granese, who pitched four and two-thirds innings, helped the team to a 6-5 victory.

Bailey Adams, Sports Editor

Coming off of a run to the quarterfinals in last week’s Saladino Tournament, Robinson (11-5) returned to Lou Garcia Field on Tuesday night, erasing a fifth-inning deficit to beat Lennard (3-13) by a score of 6-5.

The Longhorns struck for three runs in the first inning on three hits and a walk, putting the Knights in an early hole. Robinson came back with a run in the second before giving up a run in the third and fourth innings. Trailing 5-3 in the fifth, Shawn McGory led off the Knights’ half of the inning with a single. After a walk and a wild pitch, Mitchell Tozian (’16) came through with a two-run single to left, tying the game at five.

“Mitchell’s hit picked us up big time,” Robinson head coach Kevin McCray said. “There were some quality at-bats late.”

The Knights picked up the go-ahead run later in the fifth when Killian McCray (’17) walked with the bases loaded. Jake Granese (’18), who entered with one out in the third to relieve starting pitcher Kris Terry (’17), set the Longhorns down 1-2-3 in the seventh to finish off the win. He threw four and two-thirds innings, allowing one run on five hits and three walks while striking out two.

“The huge positive is that you’ve got a sophomore who comes in and doesn’t shut the door, but keeps you in the game to be able to battle back,” McCray said. “So that’s a massive positive.”

Lennard’s record, McCray said, doesn’t show its strength. The Longhorns pounded out nine hits and drew seven walks on the night, only being retired in order once.

Robinson will host Sickles (7-8) on Thursday at 7 p.m.