ANDERSON, Ind.- The Manchester Spartans traveled to rival Anderson University as they opened Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) play with a doubleheader against the Ravens on Saturday, March 23.
 
Anderson took Saturday's doubleheader by final scores of 5-4 and 6-2.
 
GAME 1: ANDERSON 5, MANCHESTER 4

• The Spartans would jump out to a 4-0 start through the top of the 4th inning of Saturday's opening game thanks to an RBI from both Michael Dierckman (Fort Wayne, Ind., Carroll) got and Harrison Pittsford (Ellettsville, Ind., Edgewood), followed by an RBI single to left field from Gavin Gleason (Brookston, Ind., Delphi Community).
• The Spartans kept the Ravens scoreless until the bottom of the eighth inning, where the Ravens would score all five runs.
• Mitchell Baker (Plainfield, Ind., Plainfield) went 2-2 at the plate with a double. 
• Ty Layson (Fort Wayne, Ind., Homestead) threw a complete game, striking out four batters. 

GAME 2: ANDERSON 6, MANCHESTER 2

• In the following game, Anderson got out to a 2-0 start by the second inning. Manchester would respond in the top of the third with a two-run double from junior Rocco Hanes (Ossian, Ind., Norwell), making the score 2-2
• The Ravens would continue their offensive efficiency, winning the final game 6-2.
• Vian Mariani (South Bend, Ind., John Adams) hit .333 in game two with one run scored and a walk. 

 
UP NEXT
Manchester will return home for a conference doubleheader at Gratz Field against the Transylvania Pioneers on Sunday, March 24.