Sunday featured an interdivisional matchup between LPR Titans and Meshuganas, two teams toward the top of their respective divisions.  With still four games remaining after today, Meshuganas is battling to work into the number two divisional seed.  LPR Titans, on the other hand, were looking to maintain their number two divisional seed and finish their season strong on this day.  Both teams battled hard in game 1.  LPR Titans scored steadily throughout the game and held off Meshuganas’ surges to take the game by 1 run.  Meshuganas came back with a vengeance, however, and beat LPR Titans handedly in game 2 in just four innings.

            Game 1 started strongly for both teams, combining to score 7 runs in the 1st inning.  LPR Titans built off of their 4 run 1st inning by plating at least one run in every inning that they came to bat.  Meshuganas trailed by a score of 7-4 going into the 5th inning, but, seemingly customary now when behind, they made a late surge to try to steal the game.  They broke through with 5 runs in the 5th and 6th innings to take a 1 run lead.  In the bottom of the inning though, LPR Titans would answer back quickly with 2 runs of their own.  Now leading 10-9 heading into the 7th, LPR Titans were able to shut down Meshuganas in the top of the inning and take game 1.

            Game 2 was a completely different story.  Unphased by the loss, Meshuganas answered LPR Titans 3-run top of the 1st with a dominant offensive display leading to 10 runs in the bottom of the inning.  After holding their opponent to 1 run in the next two innings, Meshuganas tacked on 8 more runs in that time.  LPR Titans were only able to muster up one more run in the top of the 4th, and Meshuganas took game 2 decisively by a score of 18-5, successfully preventing the sweep.

            Both teams fought hard and played very clean games.  Meshuganas took advantage of the very few defensive miscues by LPR Titans, scoring 4 unearned runs over the two games.  They also forced their opponent to earn 14 of their 15 runs.  Meshuganas was able to work 3 walks in the first game, while LPR Titans earned one.  Neither team gave up a walk in the second game.  Both teams played excellent defense behind good pitching performances in game one.  LPR Titans were just able to make a few more plays in the field and at the plate to earn the victory.  Game 2 looked ugly for LPR Titans, but there really wasn’t much more they could have done.  Meshuganas simply put on a hitting clinic and hit the gaps.  LPR Titans couldn’t dig themselves out of a steep, early hole, and Meshuganas successful fended off the sweep.  Congratulations to both teams on a hard fought day of softball and good luck as the playoffs near.