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| Senior Brett Pierson put together the best outing of his career and Lewis & Clark College baseball's bats broke out in a big way in a 12-1 win over Vassar College on Friday afternoon Lewis and Clark athletics photo by Zoe Anderson |
Wheaton College (Mass.) pounded out a season-high 17 hits and junior starting pitcher Ryan McCarroll allowed just one run on five hits, leading to an 18-8 victory over Illinois Wesleyan University this afternoon at Lake Myrtle Sports Complex in Auburndale, Fla. as part of the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational. The game was halted in the bottom of the seventh inning due to the 10-run mercy rule as mandated by the Invitational. Wheaton has scored 31 runs in the past two days and scored multiple runs in all but one inning in the game. Both pitching staffs combined to hit seven batters in the game. Junior Jimmy Gurgone came off the bench to go 2-2 with a pair of runs batted in and a run scored, while first year Jack Novak contributed with a 2-3 effort that produced an RBI and a run scored off the bench as well. Sophomore right fielder Jimmy Martin drove in a pair of runs and was 1-3 with a run scored. Junior righty starting pitcher Dalen Banks suffered the loss, allowing 10 runs (one earned) on nine hits in four innings of work to drop to 2-1.
Ithaca withstood a near three-hour rain delay against Case Western Reserve on Friday and came away with a 9-4 victory at Lexington County Stadium. The Bombers, who are now 8-3, avenge a loss to the Spartans earlier this season. IC quickly jumped ahead and never relinquished the lead as the Bombers plated five runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Spartans chipped away to a 5-3 difference by the fourth inning, but Ithaca went back ahead by three on an RBI double by Ryan Laubscher in the bottom of the fourth that brought in Feeney. Case Western scored again in the top of the seventh to make it 6-4 and then the game was delayed for 2:38 in the bottom of the inning. The Bombers tacked on three more runs to end the scoring. Jack Colyer improved to 2-0 on the season with four strikeouts over 6.0 innings pitched. Colyer allowed three runs on six hits in the outing. Sean Kelly tossed 1/3 of an inning and Conor Burns closed out the game with 2.2 innings of work with a strikeout to pick up the save. Case Western would turn things around in their second game of the day with a 19-1 win over Oswego State. In the game, junior right fielder Nick Harms connected on the 23rd home run of his career to become the program's all-time leader.
Redlands (8-10, 3-7) got back on track as they run-ruled the Caltech 11-1 on Friday afternoon at The Yard. The Bulldogs would score often with single runs early and multiple run innings at the end of the contest. Luke De Vries, Jared Anderson, and Gabriel Ceja all had three hits while Tyler Preece, Nathan Miller, and Will Cell had two as the Bulldogs collected 17 hits on the day. Tyler Reiter on the mound went seven innings with only one run allowed as he walked none with four strikeouts on 97 pitches for his fourth win.
Senior Cole Lalli belted a game tying grand slam in the eighth inning and added a go-ahead two run double in the ninth to power Mitchell past SUNY Brockport 9-7 on Friday evening at Lake Myrtle Park in the Russmatt Baseball Invitational. The Mariners trailed by four runs entering the eighth inning before Lalli's blast tied the game at 7-7. Lalli then came through an inning later, ripping a go-ahead two run double to left field to push the Mariners on top for good, giving the team a 5-3 record during their eight games in Florida. Lalli finished 2-4 with a home run, a double, six RBI, and a run scored. Senior Owen Robbins went 4-4 with two RBI and a pair of runs scored, while freshman Michael Ficocelli collected multiple hits for the fourth time this season with a 3-4 day at the plate. Freshman Chas Terni Jr. and sophomore Savier Paige also had two hits apiece.
Senior Gabriel Kirck hit two home runs and drove in seven runs, as Olivet ended its spring break trip with a 13-7 win over Fredonia State this afternoon at Crosley Field. Olivet totaled 13 hits. From the leadoff spot, senior Matthew Fennell was 3-for-5 with three runs scored. Jihari Watkins also had three hits and three runs. Kirck hit two home runs and collected seven RBI. Sophomore Nate Droste tallied two hits, including a double. Senior Keegan Kuha earned the pitching win after throwing the first five innings. He allowed two earned runs on three hits and two walks, while striking out nine.
Trailing 8-2 through six innings, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy rallied for seven runs in the seventh en route to defeating Franklin & Marshall, 10-8, at the Cusic Classic. USMMA improved to 3-6 with the win, while Franklin & Marshall dropped to 3-10. Freshman Ben Bridges went 4-for-5 with four RBI, and sophomore Ernest Darling finished 1-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored to lead the Mariners. Freshman Landon Troutt was 1-for-3 with two RBI, two walks and a run scored, while junior Garrett Clapsaddle went 1-for-4 with a double and two runs. Sophomore Ryan Felton earned the win after allowing three runs and striking out five in 6.0 innings of relief.
Another spectacular start by sophomore right-hander Brandon Cassedy and the first career save for fifth-year star Dylan Weber highlighted an impressive pitching performance by the 18th-ranked Captains on Friday afternoon as Christopher Newport baseball downed Marymount, 9-3. Dodging sporadic spells of rain, the two teams managed to play a full nine at Captains Park as CNU improved to 10-5 on the season. Cassedy, who was making his fifth start of the season and was named the NCBWA National Pitcher of the Week just over a week prior, continued his sensational start to his second season with another standout performance. Ten of the first eleven outs recorded by the Manassas, Va. native came by way of the strikeout as he cruised through the Saints lineup. Twice he punched out four in a row and despite a mounting pitch count, Cassedy stayed on top of his game as he retired seven in a row and 11 of the last 12 batters he faced. The sophomore starter allowed just two unearned runs on two hits over 6.0 innings pitched while striking out 11. He left the game in position for the win and improved to 4-0 on the season when the CNU offense held off Marymount until breaking open a 6-2 lead after his final inning.
Cortland scored three times in the top of the 11th inning and the Red Dragons defeated nationally 22nd-ranked Chapman, 5-2, in non-league action. Cortland's winning rally started with a one-out Chris Bonacci walk. Nick Chemotti singled with two outs to move Bonacci to second and Mat Bruno singled to center to drive in Bonacci with the go-ahead run. After Bruno stole second, Dylan Mackenzie singled to right to bring home two runs. Matthew Nochowitz pitched the final three innings and allowed only one baserunner on a one-out single in the 11th. He struck out three batters and earned his first collegiate victory. Bruno finished 3-for-6 with an RBI and two runs, Chemotti went 2-for-2 with two walks off the bench, Mieczkowski was 2-for-4 with a triple, walk and two RBI. AJ Anzai was 2-for-6 with an RBI as Chapman's lone player with multiple hits.
Suffolk wrapped up its time at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational on a high note as the Rams bested Saint Joseph's (Maine), 7-6, in game two of a double feature Friday night at Lake Myrtle Park. SJC kept the blue-and-gold on its toes as it got the gap back to one. Pierce Salbego traded free bases with strikeouts to put runners on first and second. Vinny O'Leary's doubled down the right field line allowed the first run to come in and two more crossed home on Dylan Brander's single up the middle. Jared Wihelm put the ball in play and Jonny Gilbride successfully gloved it to make an unassisted force out to lock up the win for Suffolk. Salbego went the distance for the Rams on the rubber and put together a six-run, seven-hit, three-walk, nine-strikeout, complete-game performance. SJC's starter Ethan Smith put together a three-run, six-hit, three-walk, six-strikeout effort in 4.0 frames.
Trey Castile threw a career-high 13 strikeouts in the first game, Tyson McAlexander hit a grand slam in game two, and Simpson split a doubleheader with Minn.-Morris on Friday. The Storm (7-7) earned a 10-3 win in the opener before falling 10-8 in a back-and-forth battle that featured three home runs. Minnesota Morris (5-8) hit a couple of home runs early in game one, but Simpson led 4-2 after three innings. The Storm added two more runs in the top of the fifth and took advantage of three hits and two errors in the seventh inning to extend the lead to 10-2. The Cougars got one run back in the home half of the seventh, but were shut down from there thanks to a flyout and Trey Castile's 13th strikeout of the game. Castile earned his second-straight complete game victory on the mound, improving to 4-0 on the year. Ten of game two's 18 runs were scored in the second inning alone as both squads put up five runs. The two teams matched scoring in the third inning as well. Minnesota Morris capitalized on a home run of its own the next inning to grab a 9-5 advantage. After a scoreless fifth, the Cougars added one to their total to extend the lead to five. A double by Will Carlock followed by a single from Nate Cagley trimmed the deficit to 10-8, but the Storm were unable to close the gap completely and settled for the split.
\Mount Saint Vincent found their way back into the win column on Friday afternoon, thanks in large part to a come-from-behind effort against Lehman College, resulting in a 11-5 victory for the Dolphins. The Lightning would open a 4-3 lead heading into the fourth inning. It was then, however, when the game turned in favor of UMSV. A large piece behind the turnaround was graduate hurler Joe Decandio. The right-hander relieved starter Sean Kennedy and shut down Lehman's offense, the Beacon native would allow just one walk and one hit while striking out six in 3.2 innings of relief. The boost would find its way to the offense. The Dolphins would score seven unanswered runs from the sixth inning through the eighth inning, with Jason Albert, Dom Porto, Zach Turko and Eric Zimmermann each collecting RBI over that span. Senior Justin Dutzer would go on to strike out five in two innings after Decandia before sophomore Michael Iocco shut the door for good.
Junior centerfielder Ray Leonzi tied the game with an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning and No. 8 hitter Preston Irby won it with a one-out single through the left side of the infield in the tenth inningas Eastern Connecticut State won its second straight game at the Marietta College/BSN SPORTS Invitational, 6-5, Friday evening at Pioneer Park. A winner of three straight, Eastern (4-5) led twice in the game by a run but needed to rally in the late innings and stop Otterbein's (9-5) four-game winning streak and hand the Cardinals just their second loss in the last seven games. Junior All-America lefty Dan Driscoll struck out eight and allowed only two earned runs over the first five innings but was lifted after five innings on the short end of a 3-2 score. The Warriors scored twice to take a 4-3 lead in the sixth but stranded two runners in scoring position, and opened the door for the Cardinals, who surged ahead with two runs (one earned) in the eighth on three singles, a sacrifice bunt, walk and a failed pickoff attempt.
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| Aurora returned to action for their first game in nearly a week, squaring off against Saint Mary's (Minn.) in their first game of the 2024 Wheaton Invitational. The AU offense exploded for 18 runs en-route to their third straight victory. In their late game, it was the pitching that allowed Aurora to defeat Dubuque 1-0. Aurora athletics photo by Steve Woltmann |
Ripon's Blaine Wahlen threw his first-ever complete game as the Red Hawks defeated Keystone 3-1 on Friday afternoon at Northeast Regional Park to cap off their week in Florida. Picking up his first win of the season, Wahlen did not allow a baserunner from the second inning until the fifth, only allowing one Giant to reach second base all afternoon. He punched out a career-high nine batters while giving up just one earned run, only allowing one walk and four hits on the afternoon. Offensively, Crete Slattery (2-for-5, RBI), Ian Plaster (2-for-4, RBI) and Michael Sheehy (2-for-4) each had multi-hit outings,
St. Scholastica wrapped up the Russmatt Invitational today, taking on the Blue Devils from UW-Stout. Both squads went back-and-forth throughout most of the game, but it would be the Saints coming away with the victory, thanks to a four-run seventh inning, by a final score of 7-5. Jake Schelonka recorded the rare four strikeouts in the top of the first inning, with one Blue Devil reaching base on a dropped third strike. UW-Stout was able to tie the game at 3-3 on the first batter of the top of the seventh inning with a solo home run. Later in the inning, an RBI double would give the Blue Devils a one run lead over the Saints, as the game moved to the bottom of the seventh inning. CSS was able to load the bases early in the inning and Alex Haapajoki 2-RBI double that would give CSS its lead back, and Finley Spicer and Haapajoki would both later score in the inning, putting CSS in front by a score of 7-4. UW-Stout tried desperately to tie the game at 7-7, and although they would add a run in the top of the eighth to make the score 7-5, strong pitching performances from T.J. Martin and Wes Kemming would prove to be enough, with CSS holding on to a 7-5 victory today.
Linfield's offensive explosion led the Wildcats to a doubleheader sweep of visiting UMass Boston on Friday afternoon at Roy Helser Field. The 'Cats blasted five total home runs with three coming in the 12-2 game one victory and the next two coming in a 9-5 game two win. Matthew Lewis finished his day with two home runs, five hits, and eight RBIs to lead the Linfield offense. In game one, Camden Oram was masterful in eight innings of work. Oram struck (3-2) out a career-high 11 batters and only surrendered two earned runs in a winning effort. Lewis, Nick Holm and Trent Wainfeld all mashed home runs for the Wildcats. Elijah Maris and Garrett Ringer each finished with an extra-base hit. Lewis and Holm combined for nine RBIs. The Wildcats finished game one with 15 total hits. In the nightcap, Jacob Swenson went five and two-thirds innings striking out six batters in his start for the 'Cats. Gavin Ludlow (1-2) earned his first win of the season after pitching just over three innings in relief and also striking out six batters. Maris finished with a home run and a team-high three hits. Lewis hit his second home run of the day and finished with a game-high four RBIs. Wainfeld accounted for two RBIs. The Wildcats again outhit the Beacons 10-9.
Overcoming a one-run deficit scoring six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, #5 East Texas Baptist University took game one over Howard Payne University, 7-2. ETBU is now 13-4 and 4-0 in the ASC. Dylan Burnaman, Connor Massimini, Hunter Rumachik led the team with two hits. Rumachik added four RBI on a grand slam and Brett Wagner, Landin Durdin, and Burnaman each had one RBI. Using two pitchers, Peyton Miller went the final three innings for the win. Jagger Neely started the game going six innings with six strikeouts. Miller finished out the remaining three innings with three strikeouts improving to 2-1 on the year. ETBU was down by two in the bottom of the fourth inning, until Landen Durdin singled up the middle batting in Austin Barry for the first run scored. Trailing, 2-1 until the bottom of the eighth inning, a double by Wagner up the middle brought in Jacob Evangelista to tie the game two. Three batters later with the bases loaded, Rumachik hit a grand slam home run as Carson Wilson, Nick Chavez, and Wagner came in for a 6-2 lead. Burnaman singled to the shortstop batting in Durdin to bring the score to 7-2 as ETBU scored six runs in the inning. The Tigers closed out the top of the ninth with two strikeouts by Miller and a caught foul ball from Rumachik to close out the game.
Wheaton (Ill.) closed out day one of its Round Robin Baseball Tournament on Friday with an impressive 9-3 victory against St. Mary's (Minn.). The day opened with No. 8 Aurora defeating St. Mary's 18-4 in game one, while Aurora picked up a 1-0 win against University of Dubuque in the second game of the day. Wheaton earned its 9-3 win against St. Mary's on Friday as the Thunder scored nine runs, on 12 hits, with one error. The Cardinals tallied three runs, on seven hits, with one error. Freshman Alex Bagley (1-1) earned his first collegiate win in seven superb innings on the mound. He allowed two runs, on just three hits, with five strikeouts and one walk. Nathan Hedlund pitched two innings of relief, allowing one run, on four hits, with three strikeouts and one walk. Thunder first baseman Jacob Snyder was 4-for-5, hitting two doubles, with two runs scored, and two stolen bases. Designated hitter was 2-for-3, with a run scored and a RBI. Kyle Wu was 2-for-4, with a double. Wu scored a run and drove in a run. Senior Harrison Stanton drove in three runs in his first game of the season, returning from an injury. Stanton was 2-for-4 with a run scored. Senior Joe Klein drove in two runs in the game, hitting the team's first home run of the season.
No. 20 Mary Hardin-Baylor defeated McMurry 8-3 Friday night in Belton. The Cru improved to 14-2 overall and 6-1 in American Southwest Conference action while the War Hawks fell to 8-9 on the season and 3-4 in ASC play. UMHB opened a 4-0 lead midway through the game. The War Hawks lessened the gap in the fifth to bring the contest within two but the Cru responded with an explosive bottom of the sixth, adding four runs to go ahead 8-4. McMurry continued to chip away in the top of the seventh on an RBI single to right field. UMHB held the War Hawks through two more innings to take the 8-3 victory. James McGlumphy (3-0) claimed the win for the Cru, pitching six innings with just two runs on 11 hits with seven strikeouts. Quint Mullen and Cameron Bogan also made mound appearances for UMHB. The Cru recorded 13 hits on the night, led by Betts and Grosz with three each.
No. 25 UW-Whitewater started off strong before a rain delay halted the game. After returning to the field, the Warhawks closed out the Sewanee Tigers with some efficient pitching, picking up the 6-1 win on Friday night. The Warhawks jumped out to a quick lead only two-innings into the game. The Tigers would answer back with a run of their own in the second, but the Warhwaks maintained the lead. In the top of the 5th, the Warhawks added a string of runs, capitalizing on some strong hitting and Sewanee errors. With the Warhawks up 6-1 heading into the 6th, the game was halted due to a thunderstorm rolling in off the Gulf. After play resumed, the Warhawks built off of their offense with strong defense. With three different pitchers in the final four innings, UW-Whitewater only allowed two hits. Ben Lee pitched in the bottom of the ninth, recording three strikeouts to seal the win. Eli Frank got the win after pitching the first five innings, Frank had 7 strikeouts on the mound. Offensively, Frank went 2 for 3 with a double and one RBI. Sam Paden, Cooper Pease, and Andy Thies all had one RBI as well.
No. 6 Denison started off the Adrian Tournament with a 7-1 win over No. 3 nationally-ranked Baldwin Wallace University on Friday evening. Denison (10-2) has now defeated Baldwin Wallace (10-3) during the regular season in each of the last three years despite falling twice to the Yellow Jackets during the Granville Regional last season, including a loss in the regional championship game. In this meeting, Will Rettig improved to 3-0 on the season and was brilliant, pitching seven innings allowing just five hits and three walks to go along with no runs allowed as well. Owen Wilson was 3-for-4 with three runs scored while Eric Colaco was 2-for-3 with three runs batted in.
FDU-Florham (6-7, 1-0 MAC Free) started off MAC Freedom play on the right foot as the Devils took care of King's (4-7, 0-1 MAC Free), 16-4 on Friday afternoon. The Devils saw four different student-athletes record a trio of RBI which included Tyrus Chippendale, Aaron Santos, Jack Giovenco and Mark Geist. Jake Hendershot also contributed greatly with three hits, two RBI, two runs scored and three stolen bases. Nick Rizos got the start and his first win on the mound this season. He pitched five innings allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits and struck out a batter. He was succeeded by Eddie Appollina who had himself an outing with no hits and no runs allowed in three innings while striking out five of his 10 batters faced. Sean Wodell closed out the game in the ninth inning and allowed only one hit and struck out two of his four batters faced.
Roger Williams took both games of a doubleheader on Friday at Lake Myrtle Park against Mount St. Joseph, downing the Lions, 3-1 and 6-5. In game one, Louie Mosca took the bump, pitching six innings, with six hits, and one run, striking out five. MarkAnthony Glickman earned the save, shutting down the Lions in his one inning of work. Six players recorded hits for the Hawks, with Nick Sheehan earning an RBI on a home run. Christopher Flynn had a hit with a double on the day, while Owen Hibbard had an RBI on a sacrifice fly. In the Hawks second game, Jack Morin and Sheehan each had a pair of RBIs, with London Camelo and Ty Cali each going one for three with an RBI. Brett Lauterbach picked up his first win of the season going 2.2 innings with four strikeouts, while holding the Lions hit less.
Hood, led by Joe Alexander and his program record-breaking 12 strikeouts with Tyler Schwarzman and his four RBIs outmatch Stevenson in their first conference game of the season with a score of 8-1. Tyler Schwarzman went 4-for-5 including a double, four RBIs and two stolen bases. Sebastian Paz went 2-for-4, was hit by a pitch and scored a run. Keegan Brennan went 1-for-2, drew two walks and scored twice. Jacob Saylor went 1-for-2 and scored twice in his 100th career start for the Blazers. Joe Alexander pitched eight innings while allowing only one earned run and one walk on five hits. Gavin Pollard pitched the final inning allowing only one hit and striking out the final batter of the game.
Adrian hosted North Central (Ill.) on Friday afternoon for a non-conference match up. The Bulldogs would win 3-2 as Jakob Charles would get credited with the win and Ryan Davis would earn the save. A pitcher's dual was on display this afternoon as Charles and the AJ Kutcher would keep the game scoreless through five innings. In the bottom of the sixth a Ryan Davis double would score the first run of the game, giving Adrian a 1-0 lead. AJ Miranda, the next Bulldogs batter would hit a single into left field to score Davis and Bruder to open up a 3-0 lead for the Bulldogs. In the top of the ninth inning, the Cardinals would make it interesting as they would score twice. Davis would come in relief with runners on first and second and close the game with a strikeout to give Adrian the win, 3-2. Adrian would total nine hits as North Central would total eight hits of their own.
Brevard (8-7, 1-0 USA South) opened up USA South Conference action on Friday afternoon at Gil Coan Field, using an eighth-inning score and a shutdown ninth to take a 7-6 victory over Southern Virginia University (2-7, 0-1 USAS). Lucas Granata led all Tornados with a three-hit performance, scoring two of BC's seven runs while also driving in an RBI. Logan Clark and Luke Morton each went 2-for-5 with a run scored each, as the top-three in BC's lineup recorded seven out of Brevard's eight hits. Kenny Pridmore recorded a double in his first at-bat as well, while Nico Bartolotti, CP Pyle, and Logan Sawyer all came across to score in the game for the Tornados. Connor Crosby turned in his best performance of the season in the USA South opener, throwing seven innings allowing nine hits and three earned runs with seven strikeouts. Andy Fahringer (2-0) was the pitcher of record after the Tornados scored a run in the bottom of the eighth, while Cesar Rodriguez – in just his second appearance of the season – recorded the save with a 1-2-3 top of the ninth. Eight different Knights recorded base hits in the game, as SVU tallied 11 total knocks. Three SVU players recorded extra-base hits as well, outhitting the Tornados 11-8 in the game.
Skidmore began the day with a 12-1 mercy-rule victory over Wisconsin Lutheran but the Thoroughbreds dropped their second game, losing to Ohio Wesleyan University 6-5 on a walk-off single with two outs in the ninth inning. Senior Ameer Hasan allowed just four hits and one run with seven strikeouts over 7.1 innings to earn the win as Skidmore defeated Wisconsin Lutheran for the second time in five days. The Thoroughbreds, who beat the Warriors in extra innings on Monday (10-9), finished with 11 hits. Ohio Wesleyan loaded the bases in the ninth inning before scoring the winning run on a two-out single to shortstop by Zane Vitense – his third hit of the game. Sammy Stoner went 5 for 5 with a run and an RBI for the Bishops, who saw Vitense earn the win in relief after starting the contest at first base. Senior righthander Andy Anthony blanked the Thoroughbreds on 5 hits through the first 5.0 innings, and Vitense collected the win after pitching a scoreless ninth.
A three-run blast off the bat of Xavier Lortie in the bottom of the seventh lifted Bethel to a 7-4 comeback win over No. 10th-ranked Rowan Friday afternoon. After a RBI single by Joe Meurer scored Jordan Krupke to tie it up at 3-3, Lortie got ahold of one putting BU up 6-3, a lead they wouldn't give up. Lorite finished the day 2-for-5 with two runs and five RBIs. Meurer went 2-for-4 with two runs, two RBIs and a walk. The Profs struck first scoring three runs in the top of the fourth, all coming with two outs in the inning. Out of the pen came Ty Koehn replacing starter Max Sutter in the fifth. With the bases full of Profs, Koehn got a strikeout escaping further damage. Meurer drew a leadoff walk in the Royals half of the sixth before Lorie notched his first homer of the day putting BU on the board. The Royals threw up a four spot in the seventh before Meurer drove in an insurance run in the eighth. Rowan plated a two-out run in the seventh and had runners at second and third. Out of the pen came Ryan Parker getting a ground and picking up the save.
Junior Danny Quinn homered for the third straight game and sophomore Andrew Faherty drove in five runs as Plymouth State split a doubleheader with La Roche in the final day of the Myrtle Beach College Baseball Spring Training at Griffith Field on Friday. La Roche exploded for 13 runs in the fourth inning of the opener en route to a 17-7 victory. Plymouth State rebounded in game two, winning 7-3. PSU jumped ahead with a four-spot in the top of the first, with Faherty driving in two with a double. La Roche countered with three runs in the bottom of the inning, but Faherty blasted a three-run shot in the third and the Panthers’ pitchers made the lead stand.
The No. 14 La Verne Leopards took a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning and never looked back, throttling the Occidental Tigers 13-1 in the first of a three-game series. La Verne finished with 15 hits in the win. La Verne has scored 10 or more runs in seven games this season and has totaled double-digit hits in nine games. Nathan Perry led a quartet of Leopards with multiple hits. Perry totaled three hits, including his third home run of the season, two RBIs, and a walk. Perry left the yard in the sixth when he hit a two-run shot to left that plated Matthew Diaz. Not to be outdone, Logan Reese hit a homer of his own, his first of the year, as part of a two-hit performance. Reese's three-run bomb put a stamp on the game, scoring the final three runs of the rout. Reese scored three times and drew a walk. Niko Urquidi allowed just one run in four and two-thirds innings. Gabriel Lucero picked up the win, pitching one and a third relief innings. Devin Avila pitched the final three innings, striking out two to earn the save.
The 12th-ranked Trinity (Texas) Tigers opened up Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play with a 5-2 win over Southwestern University on Friday night. Joseph Chavana improved to 3-0 on the year after striking out seven batters over seven innings, allowing just one run on four hits. Will Hellings came on in relief, allowing just one unearned run over the final two innings to close out the game. Kai Tinker went 3-for-5 with two RBI and one run scored to pace Trinity's offensive attack, while Max Milligan went 2-for-2 with two doubles and a run scored. Jack Peterson matched Tinker for the team lead with two RBI each.
No. 9 Johns Hopkins used clutch hitting from the bottom half of its lineup to complete a dramatic come-from-behind victory over Webster Friday afternoon, turning a 4-0 deficit heading into the seventh into a 7-5 win capped off by a two-run, walk-off homer from Dylan Whitney. The Gorloks (7-6) wasted no time breaking open the scoring in the first inning, taking a 4-0 lead through the top-half of the sixth while the Blue jays (7-3) were held without a hit. Hopkins finally broke the no-hitter in the bottom of the sixth when Damian Brown singled to left field with a Winikur single moving the sophomore to second, but the Blue Jays' rally ended there. Bearden Awadzi let two runners on in the seventh but was never really tested before Hopkins began its comeback in the bottom of the frame. Three outs from a win, William Boneno came in to close out the game, but a leadoff walk followed by a trio of grounders — the last of which was beaten out by the Gorloks' batter — leveled the game at five heading into the bottom of the ninth. With one man out in the final frame, Tripp Myers came in to pinch hit and ripped a single through the right side to keep Hopkins' hopes alive and bring Whitney to the plate. The junior battled through a long at-bat, fouling off several pitches before launching a ball over the left field fence to end the game in walk-off fashion, securing the 7-5 win for the Blue Jays.