North Manchester, Ind. - The Manchester University Baseball team hosted the Earlham Quakers in a three-game series this past weekend right here at Gratz Field.

The Offenses were hot for both teams but the Spartans grit prevailed in Games One and Three as they would come from behind and win the games in the bottom of the 9th.

Game One Manchester 8, Earlham 7

The Quakers got on the board early but the Spartans owned innings three through five, putting up five runs including a Cam Bortone (South Bend, Ind,, Mishawaka Marian) Home three run home run in the 5th. After a big 6th and 7th inning from Earlham, a Joel Kennedy (Mooreland, Ind., Monroe Central) line-drive home run would tie the game at 6-6. Earlham regained the lead in the 8th but the Spartans had other plans in the 9th, when Beau Kaler (Elkhart, Ind., Jimtown) singled bringing in the tying run and Max Horner (Goshen, Ind., Northridge) singled with bases loaded to win the game 8-7.

Rocco Hanes (Ossian, Ind., Norwell) went 6.2 with 8 strikeouts and Quinton Black (Noblesville, Ind., Noblesville) picked up the win with 2.1 IP and a couple of strikeouts to finish.

Game Two Manchester 9, Earlham 16

25 runs were scored between the two teams in Game Two of the series that lead to an Earlham victory. The Spartans finish the game with 14 total hits with Rocco Hanes going 3-5 with 5 RBIs that include a Grand Slam in the bottom of the 8th. The Earlham offense made their mark to take Game Two and have the series tied heading into Saturday.

Game Three Manchester 8, Earlham 7

A muggy Saturday afternoon game had some Deja Vu to it when Earlham took a 5-1 lead in the 5th inning which saw Manchester working to come from behind again. The Spartans did just that with a dominant bottom of the 5th inning that saw Manchester score five runs including a 2-RBI double from Joel Kennedy. Earlham took the lead back in th top of the 6th to make the game 7-6. The Spartans headed into the 9th inning trailing 7-6 for the second time this series with the walk-off in reach, Joel Kennedy singled up the middle to drive in Beau Kaler and Rocco Hanes hit a long single to deep left-center to drive in Max Horner and secure the game and series victory.

Jake McGrath (Fort Wayne, Ind., Carroll) picked up the win after going 1.1 innings and allowing no hits or runs.

The Spartans next match up will come against Trine University at Parkview Field on April 22.