Ocelots Begin 2025 Season With A Split

ORLANDO, FL – The Ocelots kicked off their 2025 campaign with a double-header against the D3 Erie Community College.

Game 1- The Ocelots came out of the gate ready for the season to start. As the home team in the 1^st game, starter Owen Elsey would record a scoreless top of the 1^st and in the bottom half, a Ben Cannon double would score Issander Vega who walked earlier in the inning. A Dominic Westfall single would plate Cannon to give Schoolcraft a quick 2-0 lead. Erie would cut the lead in half in the top of the 2^nd before Cannon would register another RBI in the bottom half, singling home Vega. Things would remain stagnant in the middle innings of the game. Erie would make it a 1 run game again in the top of the 5^th. The Ocelots would extend their lead to 3 in the bottom of the 6^th thanks to a balk plating, a run and a sacrifice fly from Colin Sclater.

Starter Owen Elsey would log 5 innings, allowing 6 hits, 2 runs with just 1 earned. Elsey would fill up the zone, striking out 6 without allowing a walk. Abel Gutierrez would come in and register a 6-out save while striking out 3 batters.

Game 2- The 2^nd game of the doubleheader would see Schoolcraft score early again, this time in the top of the 1^st as the away team. Erie would get the run back in the bottom of the 2^nd and the score would remain 1-1 until the 5^th. During the 5^th and 6^th innings, the Ocelots would score 3 runs, bringing their lead to 4-1. Things would unravel in the bottom of the 7^th for the Ocelots as Erie would score 4 runs in the bottom of the 7^th to walk off the Ocelots.

Starter John Toth dealt in his first collegiate start, going 6 innings, allowing just 1 run on 5 hits.

The Ocelots are back in action tomorrow with a doubleheader against Marian's University Ancilla College starting at 3:00PM. The games will be played at Chain of Lakes Park.