GALION — The Galion Graders and the Licking County Settlers met up for a double header at Heddleson Field in Heise Park on Saturday. The first game of the double-dip was the make-up game, originally to be played in Newark, from Friday June 3o.
Galion played as the visiting ball club for game number one and were defeated by Licking County in a one-side contest, 10-2. Game two was only a seven inning game and proved to be Galion’s third consecutive loss as they dropped that game, 5-2.
The Graders fall to 11-13 now on the season while the Settlers bump their record up to 10-13.
Osvaldo Duran was the starter for Galion in game number one, going just 2.1 innings, allowing three hits and five earned runs while walking two and striking out one. Jordan Peck came on in relief to throw an inning, give up four hits, three earned runs and a walk to take the loss. Clay Davies worked 3.2 innings for the Graders, allowing six hits and two earned runs while recording two strike outs. Sam Stewart worked the eighth and struck out one Licking County hitter.
Matt Noel was a bright spot in the Galion line-up with three singles in the game. Grant Fuller belted an RBI triple, Austin Hathaway and Brady Hettinger had a single apiece and Jake Hoover and Josh Kent had a single and a run scored apiece.
Galion recorded eight hits to score their two runs, stranded eight runners on base and committed no errors in the field. Licking County had 10 runs on 13 hits, also stranded eight and committed three errors in the first game.
Game number two saw Justin Longbrake started for Galion. Longbrake went four innings, allowed seven hits and four earned runs. Longbrake also walked a batter and struck out a batter en route to the loss. Christian Specht worked 2.2 relief innings, scattering three hits and picking up an earned run. Brock Balderson recorded 0.1 innings on the night, walking one and striking out one.
Hoover had two singles in the second game and Hettinger, Brandt Nowaskie and Noel also had singles with Nowaskie scoring one of the two Graders runs. Kent scored the other Galion run and swiped a base, Zach Mottice also had a stolen base and Hathaway added one to his RBI total on the season.
Galion had just five hits in the shortened game to score their two runs and stranded 10 runners on the base path. Licking County scored five runs on 10 hits and stranded five. The Graders committed the only error in game number two.
The Graders will be on the road against the Central Division leading Lima Locos on Tuesday before hosting them again on Wednesday. On Thursday and Friday, Galion will be in Lorain to do battle with the Ironmen before returning home to face the Grand Lake Mariners on Saturday.
