FRANKLIN & HANOVER, Ind. – The Manchester University baseball team split both of its doubleheaders against Franklin College and Hanover College to open Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference this weekend.

Gm 1 – Manchester def. Franklin 12-7 – Box Score

Gm 2 – Franklin def. Manchester 13-3 – 7 Innings – Box Score

Gm 3 – Manchester def. Hanover 16-4 – Box Score

Gm 4 – Hanover def. Manchester 12-6 – Box Score

Weekend Notes:

* Offense was on full display all weekend for Manchester as the Spartans pushed over a total of 37 runs. MU also hit .308 as a team.
* In Manchester's opening win over Franklin, Manchester pumped out 14 hits against four different Grizzly pitchers. Jacob Van Pelt (Parker City, Ind./Dyer) went 3-6 at the plate with a home run and five RBI in the Black & Gold's first win of the season.
* In Manchester's 16-4 win over Hanover on Sunday, seven different Spartans drove in at least one run.
* Through four games this weekend, Jacob Van Pelt hit .353 (6-17) with a pair of home runs and eight RBI. Joe Henschel (Huntertown, Ind./Carroll) batted .500 (7-14) with one double, one triple, one home run, and six RBI.
* Both Alex Morr (Bryan, Ohio/Bryan) and Zach White (Logansport, Ind./Logansport) collected five hits over the weekend. White drove in five runs while Morr added four RBI.
* Winning pitchers over the weekend included Jacob Van Pelt and CJ Williams (Pendleton, Ind./Pendleton Heights).
* Head Coach Rick Espeset is closing in on 600 career coaching wins. After two wins this weekend, his career total now sits at 592.

Up Next:

* Manchester (2-2, 2-2 HCAC) will return to action on Saturday, March 13, with a road doubleheader at Transylvania. MU will then host Mount St. Joseph on Sunday, March 14, at Gratz Field. First pitches both days are currently scheduled for 12 p.m.