Box Score Embry-Riddle jumped on top in the bottom of the 1st inning with one run and ERAU never looked back as the Eagles won 10-2 over Simpson in the Cal Pac Tournament in Mesa on Wednesday afternoon.
Travis Strickler (Glendale, Ariz.), the Cal Pac Player of the Year, led off with a single and stole second. Strickler came around to score on a defensive miscue by the RedHawks and Embry-Riddle led 1-0.
In the bottom of the third inning, Javier Izaguirre Jr. (Riverside, Calif.) began the inning with a walk. Drew Barragan (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.) followed with a single to put runners on first and second. Izaguirre Jr.'s pinch runner Kaden Menard (Meridian, Idaho) came around to score on a single by Roberto Garza-Nunez (Salinas, Calif.) to make the score 2-0. With two outs, Blake Moore (San Ramon, Calif.) hit a single that brought home Barragan and put runners on first and second. Gavin Botts (Lake Forest, Calif.) loaded the bases when he was hit by a pitch. The next batter Miles Murphy (Goodyear, Ariz.) singled to centerfield and two runners scored to make the score 6-0. Strickler brought home the 5th run of the inning and 7th of the game for the Eagles on a double to right field.
Simpson scored one run in the top of the 4th, but Embry-Riddle got it right back on back to back doubles by Garza-Nunez and Luke Jepsen (Temecula, Calif.).
ERAU scored another run in the bottom of the 5th to take an 8-1 lead as Strickler came around to score again on a double by Izaguirre Jr.
Simpson brought home another run in the top of the 6th to make the score 8-2, however the Eagles scored the last two runs of the game in the bottom of the 7th. Strickler doubled to center field and moved to third on another double by Izaguirre Jr. A single by Barragan plated Strickler and then Izaguirre Jr. scored on a single by Garza-Nunez to make the final score 10-2.
Cole Altherr (Tucson, Ariz.) earned the win pitching 8 solid innings and striking out ten. Jonah Montes (Upland, Calif.) pitched the 9th inning not giving up a hit.
Embry-Riddle will play again on Thursday at 11am against the winner of Game 3 between Benedictine Mesa and Westcliff.
