Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Embry-Riddle won both games by the run rule on Saturday as the Eagles moved to 6-0 in California Pacific Conference play. ERAU won game one 17-7 and took game two 15-2.
Game 1
The Eagles scored first as Travis Strickler (Glendale, Ariz.) took the first pitch he saw of the day down the left field line for a double. He moved over to third on a wild pitch and scored on a groundout by Javier Izaguirre Jr. (Riverside, Calif.).
USK scored twice in the top of the 2nd inning and added four more runs in the top of the 4th inning as they held a 6-1 lead.
Embry-Riddle answered with three runs in the bottom of the 4th however. Roberto Garza-Nunez (Salinas, Calif.) started off the inning with a single. Luke Jepsen (Temecula, Calif.) then reached on an error to put runners on first and second. Kevin Fedoruk (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) had the big hit of the inning, a three run homerun to bring ERAU back within two at 6-4.
A five run 5th inning gave the Eagles the lead back for good. Strickler led off with his second double of the day followed by a single from Izaguirre Jr. The NAIA leader in RBIs, Drew Barragan (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.) earned another one on a sacrifice fly to score Strickler and make the score 6-5. Back to back doubles by Izaguirre Jr. and Fedoruk put Embry-Riddle ahead 7-6. Blake Moore (San Ramon, Calif.) hit a two run homerun next and the inning ended with the Eagles up 9-6.
ERAU added six more runs in the bottom of the 6th inning as once again Strickler led off by getting on base, this time he was hit by a pitch. Izaguirre then singled and both runners moved up on a passed ball. Strickler scored on a sac fly by Barragan and then Garza-Nunez hit the Eagles third home run of the game to put Embry-Riddle ahead by six at 12-6. Another double by Fedoruk came next and he was pinch ran for by Kaden Menard (Meridian, Idaho). Menard advanced to third and later scored on a wild pitch. Moore and Gavin Botts (Lake Forest, Calif.) were both walked to put runners at first and second for Miles Murphy (Goodyear, Ariz.). Murphy hit a double to center field which scored Moore and moved Botts to 3rd base. Botts scored on a wild pitch and the inning ended 15-6 Eagles.
Embry-Riddle added one run in the bottom of the 7th and walked it off in the bottom of the 8th as Murphy walked and scored on a triple by Strickler.
Spencer Lanz (Atwater, Calif.) pitched well in relief for Embry-Riddle. He threw 3.1 innings and struck out three, giving up just two hits.
Game 2
ERAU scored at least one run every inning in game two on their way to the series sweep.
Izaguirre Jr. was walked and Menard went in to pinch run for him. Menard advanced to third on a single by Barragan and came into score on a passed ball. After one inning of play, the Eagles led 1-0.
The second inning started with Owen Cain (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) being hit by a pitch. With one out, Calvin Solie (Buckeye, Ariz.) singled and then Murphy was hit by a pitch to load up the bases. Strickler came up and hit a grand slam and put ERAU up 5-0. Izaguirre Jr. got on base again, this time with a single and his pinch runner Menard stole both second and third and then scored on a passed ball. Embry-Riddle led 6-0 after two innings.
Cain hit a solo homerun in the bottom of the third to make it 7-0.
USK got one run back in the top of the 4th inning, but ERAU answered with four runs in the bottom half of the inning. Izaguirre Jr., Barragan, and Garza-Nunez all walked to load the bases. Jepsen hit a single which scored the first two runners and a double by Cain played Jepsen and Garza-Nunez. After four innings in the books, the Eagles were up 11-1.
Each team added a run in the 5th inning and Embry-Riddle scored three more in the bottom of the 6th. Fedoruk, Solie, and pinch hitter Jacob Aguirre (La Verne, Calif.) all hit singles to begin the inning. Fedoruk scored on Aguirre's single and Solie came across the plate on a groundout by Strickler for another run. Izaguirre's third hit of the game moved Aguirre to 3rd base. Barragan doubled in both base runners to extend the Eagle lead and make the score 15-2.
Jesse Kaphing (Phoenix, Ariz.) earned the complete game win. Kaphing gave up just two runs and struck out two in his seven innings.
Embry-Riddle will play again on Monday as Hastings will be back up to Prescott for a 2pm game at Eagle Baseball Field.
