PRESCOTT, Ariz. – Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Ariz.) scored three times in the first and never relinquished the lead as the Eagles took a 4-3 victory over Simpson University in a California Pacific Conference baseball game. The win gave ERAU the series over the Redhawks, 2-1. Senior Travis Strickler (Glendale, Ariz.) had three hits and drove in a pair of runs for EARU.

Embry-Riddle (7-13, 3-3 Cal Pac) started their half of the first inning with back-to-back singles from junior Calvin Solie (Buckeye, Ariz.) and freshman Miles Murphy (Goodyear, Ariz.). Strickler then followed with his first hit of the game, a triple, and just three hitters into their half of the inning the Eagles had a 2-0 lead. Junior Roberto Garza-Nunez (Salinas, Calif.) then grounded out to short, bringing home Strickler for a 3-0 lead.

Junior Aiden Vestbie (Reno, Nev.) started on the mound for Embry-Riddle and set down the first six hitters he faced. He gave up two singles to start the third, and the Redhawks ended up getting one of those runners to score on an error. ERAU picked that run back up in the sixth when junior Drew Barragan (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.) reached on a fielder's choice, moved to second on an errant pick off attempt and then scored on a single to center by junior Owen Cain (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.).

Vestbie kept Simpson's offense in check until the seventh when the Redhawks loaded the bases with no one down on a walk, single, and a hit batter. A double-play ball allowed one run to score before an error allowed another across to make it 4-3. Freshman Noah Tschopp (Las Vegas, Nev.) came out of the bullpen to close it out for the Eagles, gaining the save by striking out a pair and scattering three hits over the final two innings.