MESA, Ariz. – Benedictine-Mesa staged two late rallies, overcoming a pair of Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) leads to sweep a California Pacific Conference baseball doubleheader. The Redhawks took game one 8-4 before coming up with a five-run rally in the bottom of the ninth to take a 10-9 win in game two. Junior Luke Jepsen (Temecula, Calif.) Ottawa (Ariz.) went 4-for-5 over the two games for the Eagles, driving in  one and scoring twice.

Game 1

After three scoreless innings, Benedictine-Mesa got on the board with run in the bottom of the fourth. Embry-Riddle came right back and took its first lead of the contest in the fifth when junior Kevin Fedoruk (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) stroked a two-run, two-out double to left. The Eagles then added to their lead with a run in the sixth on junior Roberto Garza-Nunez's (Salinas, Calif.) sac fly.

ERAU starter, junior Cole Altherr (Tucson, Ariz.) was solid through his seven innings on the mound, giving up just the one run on seven hits while striking out 10. The Redhawks got to the Eagle bullpen in the eighth, however, when they put seven runs on the board, with the big blow a bases loaded double that plated all three runners and made it 8-3.

Embry-Riddle got one of the runs back in the ninth on a balk but could not put together the big inning as BenU went on to the victory.

Game 2

Embry-Riddle got off to a strong start in the nightcap, breaking open a scoreless contest in the third. The first three Eagles reached base, and with one away, Jepsen drew an RBI walk. Junior Jacob Aguirre (La Verne, Calif.) followed with a two-run single before junior Owen Cain (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) delivered an RBI single for a 4-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth Benedictine-Mesa struck for four to tie it, loading the bases and then getting a sac fly, a two-run single, and a run-scoring double to knot things up at 4-all. The Redhawks then took their first lead of the game with a single run in the fifth.

Embry-Riddle came back with another four-spot, this time in the eighth. Cain and junior Calvin Solie (Buckeye, Ariz.) came up with RBI singles before senior Travis Strickler (Glendale, Ariz.) made it 8-5 with a two-run triple. The Eagles then made it 9-5 with a run in the ninth.

Benedictine-Mesa was not done, however, loading the bases on three walks. ERAU got the first two outs without any damage occurring, but the Redhawks came up with four consecutive singles to score five times and walk it off.