Box Score MESA, ARIZ. – The Embry-Riddle baseball team earned a split in its final day at the 2023 Coach Calderone Invitational, and earned yet another victory over a top-25 to close out the week. After falling to College of Idaho in opener, the Eagles defeated 24th-ranked Taylor in a solid performance to push the season-opening record to 3-1.
College of Idaho 11, Embry-Riddle 3
The Eagles found themselves in a big hole early, as they gave up eight runs in the second inning and could not get back into the contest. Embry-Riddle did allow just two runs over the final six innings, building a little bit of momentum and confidence toward the second game on Saturday.
ERAU did knock out eight hits, with Luke Jepsen and Jacob Aguirre each getting two. Jepsen and Aguirre also each had a triple, having two of the four Eagle extra base hits.
Aguirre drove in a run with his triple in the eighth inning, one of three players to record an RBI. Miles Murphy brought home Calvin Solie with his double in the seventh, then came across on a Travis Strickler infield single.
Embry-Riddle 8, (24) Taylor 4
The Eagles bounced back in the final game of the day, earning its second win over a ranked opponent this week. Embry-Riddle battled back and forth early with Taylor, but shut out the Trojans from the fourth inning on and slowly pulled away for the victory.
ERAU scored three runs in the top of the first inning to grab momentum early. The Eagles took advantage of a Taylor error to score two runs, adding onto the one they had from a Drew Barragan single.
The Eagles eventually fell behind 4-3 following the third inning, but answered immediately to tie the game. Murphy singled, made it all the way to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Barragan RBI groundout.
Embry-Riddle would score four more to take the lead and put the contest away, with the biggest strike coming in the fifth. ERAU added two runs to retake the lead, then added one in the seventh and ninth.
Alec Hagopian, Zack Bauer and Zach Sharp combined to allow just one hit over the final five innings out of the bullpen. Hagopian earned the win with a clean two innings, and Sharp earned the save with two scoreless frames.
Jepsen turned in another 3-for-4 performance, scoring three runs for the Eagles. Jepsen is also drew a walk and stole a base.
Barragan and Roberto Garza-Nunez turned in matching two-hit performances, and Barragan drove in a pair of runs as well. Gavin Botts also had a pair of hits, and all nine players in the ERAU starting lineup had at least one hit.
Embry-Riddle will hit the road next week for another showdown with a ranked opponent, heading to Santa Barbara, Calif. against Westmont. The teams will play four games in two days, starting on next Friday, February 3.
