CADIZ, Oh. - February 25, 2024 - Chatham Baseball kicked off their 2024 season Sunday afternoon in Cadiz, Ohio vs Muskingum University at Harrison Central High School. The Cougars dropped both games with the game one score being 12-5 and game two being 11-0. 

In game one, the Muskies would strike first with a four-run first inning. The Cougars answered with one run of their own in the bottom half of the inning thanks to Sophomore Caleb Jones who drove in Sophomore Angelo DeLeonardis with a single to centerfield. Muskingum scraped five more runs the next four innings until DeLeonardis drove a ball off the left center wall that brought in Senior Benny Dottle in the sixth inning. Chatham then added three runs in the bottom of the sixth with a RBI single from Sophomore Peter Tadic, a wild pitch, and then a Dottle double to left center. Freshman Nolan Boehm made his collegiate debut on the mound and got out of jam without giving up any runs. 

Caleb Jones was 2-5 with an RBI and Peter Tadic was 2-4 with an RBI and a run scored. 

In game two, transfer Junior Carter Beneigh made his first collegiate start on the mound. Muskingum again jumped out to an early 4-0 lead as they did so in game one. Beneigh settled in after the first inning as he kept the Muskies scoreless the next two innings and two thirds. The Muskies scored seven runs between the fifth and sixth inning as Chatham was unable to surpass the 10-run mercy rule. The Cougars scattered four hits in the game, those coming from Dottle, Jones, Junior Tyler Cote, and Senior Frankie DeLuca.

The Cougars will resume play on Tuesday, as they will host Penn St. New Kensington at West Field in Munhall, PA. The game is slated for a 7:30 PM start.