GRANVILLE, Ohio — The Earlham College baseball team picked up a split in Saturday's North Coast Athletic Conference doubleheader against Denison University at Big Red Field.

The Quakers took the opener 4-1 before falling 6-5 in the second contest.

Earlham had a three-run third inning to take control of the first game. Andrew Morrical got the Quakers on the scoreboard with a two-run single. Conner Gable followed with a RBI single to make it 3-0.

Denison scored its only run of the game in the fourth inning, but the Quakers responded with the final tally of the contest when Jake Carr knocked in a run with a double.

Adam Painter (2-2) went the distance to earn the victory. Painter surrendered one run on eight hits with a walk and one strikeout. Carr and Morrical led the Quakers with two hits each.

Looking for a Sweep

The Quakers began the second contest with an unearned run in the top of the first. Denison tied the game at 1-1 with a run in the bottom of the frame.

The Big Red went on top 3-1 with a pair of runs in the second. Tyler Schroeder scored for Earlham in the third inning on a Denison error to make it 3-2.

Unfortunately for the Quakers, Denison scored a run in the third and in the fifth to build a 5-2 margin.

In the sixth inning, the Quakers bounced back to tie the contest at 5-5. Morrical singled to start the rally and Gable followed with a walk. Painter reached on a fielder's choice. However, Denison didn't record an out on the play and the bases were loaded.

Ross Yoho coaxed a walk that produced a run and Nate Chandler made it 5-4 with a sacrifice fly.

After Chris Tillery struck out, Chris Baumann then reached on a Denison error that allowed Painter to score to tie the contest.

Denison got its leadoff batter on base in the bottom of the sixth of Earlham starter Shawn Kinnett. Gable (0-1) was then called to the mound. With a stolen base, a strikeout and a walk, Denison had runners at first and second.

From behind the plate, Carr picked off the runner at second with help from Baumann and Yoho. After another walk, Gable surrendered a two-out single that knocked in what turned out to be the winning run.

Earlham couldn't mount a threat in the top of the seventh as Denison would take the second game.

Kinnett worked five innings and gave up five runs on eight hits with a walk and a strikeout. Gable, who took the loss, worked the sixth inning allowing one run on a hit with two walks and a strikeout.

Carr Now All-Time Hits Leader

Carr, who had two hits on Saturday, is now Earlham's all-time hits leader (since 1974) with 160. An error in his career total was corrected this week as he passed Eric Sturgeon (2005-08) and is now at the top of the list.

One of Carr's hits was a double, which gives him 36 in his career. He reached the top of that list last season.

Earlham (2-11, 1-5) finishes its NCAC West series at Denison on Sunday. The first game of the twinbill is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score