TORONTO, Ont. - Returning to the diamond after nearly two years, the Durham Lords baseball team fell in both games of a preseason doubleheader versus the Humber Hawks on Saturday afternoon. Scores for the games were 10-3 and 8-4 in favour of the Hawks.

In the opening game Corey Stewart (St. Catharines, ON) and Cruz Lopez earned the Lords lone two RBI. Stewart went 2-for-3 at the plate, while Lopez was 1-for-1 with a stolen base.

A trio of pitchers in Ben Spunde (Elmira, ON), Michael Asselin (Pickering, ON), and Thomas Handy (Newington, ON) played for DC in the opener. Spunde went nearly four innings, striking out three, while allowing five hits and three earned runs. Asselin worked two innings, also recording three strikeouts, but gave up five earned runs on three hits. Handy picked up one strikeout in relief.

At the plate in Game 2 the Lords rallied late scoring three runs in the sixth inning, after picking up one run early in the third. The team was led by veteran Griffin Oliver (Oshawa, ON) and newcomer Jacob Smith (Kingston, ON). Both Oliver and Smith went 1-for-3 at the plate through the seven inning contest, with Smith picking up two RBI and Oliver scoring one. The Lords offence looked good but they had eight players left on base.

Another trio of young pitchers took to the mound in Ryan Mattes (Whitby, ON), Aidan Carbray (Oakville, ON), and Ryan Fisher (Bradford, ON). In three innings of work Mattes picked up one strikeout, while allowing five hits and giving up three earned runs. Carbray then picked up three strikeouts over two innings of work, conceding three hits and two earned runs. Fisher pitched one inning in relief.

The Lords next welcome the Toronto Varsity Blues to Kinsmen Stadium for more exhibition action on Monday, Sept. 13. First pitch is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
 

QUICK LOOK AT THE LORDS

Overall Record: 0-2 (W-L)
Conference Record: 0-0

Next match: Monday, Sept.. 13 vs. Toronto Varsity Blues (7:30 p.m. - Kinsmen Stadium)
 
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