The Hornets dropped both games of a doubleheader against LeMoyne on Saturday at Soldier Field. They dropped the first game 10-8 and lost the second game 14-9. The loss drops the Hornets to 2-12 while the Dolphins improve to 5-10.

The Hornets led 8-5 going into the top of the 8th inning in the first game. Starter JR McAllister left the game after surrendering back-to-back doubles, bringing the score to 8-6. Then relief pitcher Jamie Friel allowed Mike Brown to hit a single to left field, driving in another run. He followed by walking Sean Paino and Stephen Crawford to load the bases. Matt Nandin hit a double to right center scoring Brown, Paino and Crawford for the go ahead runs, 10-8.

The Hornets big inning at the plate was during the fifth inning when they scored five runs. Jimmie Johnson started the inning off with a single to right field. He was followed by Bittner who hit a homerun to centerfield. Friel singled to right field. Carter walked. Jarrett Bibb hit a three run homerun to right field.

Bibb led the Hornets offensively in the first game, going 4-for-4 with 2 runs scored, 4 RBI’s and 2 homeruns. Bittner went 1-for-4 with 1 run, 1 RBI, 1 walk and 1 homerun. Carter was 1-for-2 with 2 runs and 2 walks.

Friel (0-2) was the losing pitcher. He pitched one inning but gave up the three runs which lost the game. McAllister went seven innings giving up 10 hits on 7 runs. Bryan Perkins pitched the final inning of the game, giving up no runs.

Luke Nellis (1-1) was the winning pitcher for the Dolphins. He pitched the final 3.2 innings of the game, only giving up two hits. Starter Eric Beaulac went 4.2 innings, giving up 11 hits on 8 runs. Tom McDermott pitched .2 innings of relief giving up just 1 hit.

The Hornets never led in the second game, losing 14-9. Starter David Langton was hit around, giving up seven runs in the third inning.

Stephen Crawford started the third inning with a single to left field. He stole second base and then advanced to third on a single by Matt Nandin. Chris Edmondson hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Crawford. Later Brown hit a sacrifice fly to score Nandin from third. Langton walked the bases loaded and then walked Paino, to allow Corey O’Neill to score. Chris Murphy singled in Phil St. Amant. Crawford topped the inning off with a triple scoring Murphy, Paino and DiFruscio.

The Hornets attempted a comeback in the bottom of the sixth when they scored four runs. Kevin Noriega singled up the middle. Ryne Mailen was hit by a pitch. Ross Babineaux singled to right field to load the bases. Bittner hit the ball to the first baseman, sacrificing himself so Noriega could score from third. Carter hit a double to right center, scoring Mailen and Babineaux. Ryne Scheiwe hit a single to left center, scoring Carter.

The Hornets were within three, 12-9, going into the top of the seventh but gave up two more runs. The losing pitcher in the game was Langton. He went 3.1 innings, giving up 8 runs on 7 hits. Mike Ingram pitched 3.2 innings of relief, giving up 6 runs on 6 hits.

The winning pitcher for the Dolphins was Brandon Otto. He went three innings, giving up four runs on five hits. Their starter Cory Nelson went 2.2 innings, giving up 5 runs on 5 hits. Mike Anarumo pitched 1.1 innings.

Carter led the Hornets on offense going 2-for-3 with 2 runs and 3 RBI’s. Jose Portela was 2-for-4 with 3 RBI’s. Bibb also contributed with a homerun.

Crawford led the Dolphins, going 3-for-4 with 3 runs and 4 RBI’s.

Hornet centerfielder Jared Lineweaver was taken out of the first game in the first inning after making a spectacular catch to get the final out of the inning. He injured his right knee on the play and was unable to return.

The Hornets will face off against the Dolphins in the final game of the series Sunday at Soldier Field, beginning at 1 p.m.