FORT PIERCE, FL— Griffin Tubbs picked up his first win of the year on the hill, and Ben Closson led the offense as the Houghton Highlanders picked up their first win of the year over the Penn State-Behrend Lions, 7-2.
 
Tubbs scattered seven hits over seven innings of work, striking out five, allowing only one unearned run in the first inning, and did not issue a single walk.
 
Closson picked up his first hit of the game in the first, laced a two-out, two-RBI triple to centerfield in the third, and struck again in the fourth, tripling over the outfield for another RBI.
 
Behrend picked up another run in the eighth to cut the Houghton lead to five, but Jared Couch closed out the game for Houghton with a scoreless ninth.
 
GAME VITALS                           
Game 1 Score: Kenyon – 4 | Houghton - 2
Game 2 Score: Houghton – 1 | Kenyon – 2
Records: Kenyon: 2-1 | Houghton: 0-4
Venue: Lawnwood Sports Complex | Attendance: 65/65
 
KEY STATS:
>> Closson finished the day 3-for-5 with two triples and three RBI.
 
>> Caleb Philips and Whitney Cook each added two hits apiece for the Highlanders.  Philips drove in two runs and Cook swiped three bases.
 
>> Joshua Wagner picked up two hits for the Lions.
 
COACH'S CORNER:
"It was good to get our first win of the year, especially over an established program.  We played well in every facet of the game today.
 
"I respect Coach Benim a lot.  His team plays the right way—they respect the game and their opponents, and they play hard all the time. 
 
"[Griffin Tubbs] pitched an excellent game.  He got ahead and stayed ahead; changed speeds and locations, and worked quickly.
 
"It was particularly good to see our bats came alive.  Ben [Closson] had some clutch hits and we were productive throughout the lineup.
 
"I'll sleep a little better tonight, but we're right back to work tomorrow.  We'll try to carry this into a couple of tough games and keep rolling." –Coach Brian Reitnour
 
UP NEXT:
Houghton returns to the Lawnwood Complex tomorrow for a split doubleheader against Lebanon Valley College at 10:00 a.m. and Muskingum University at 1:00 p.m.