Seattle University received solid pitching at times, but two big innings and better pitching allowed New Mexico State to earn a 5-3 victory Saturday afternoon in a non-conference collegiate baseball game at Presley Askew Field.
“I am disappointed in our inability to get a split this weekend,” Seattle U head coach Donny Harrel said. “Our two, three, and four hitters were on base 10 times today, but we only accounted for three runs. We played good defense all weekend, but we have to eliminate letting teams score after we do. Small things hurt us this weekend, so we need to fix those as we move forward.”
With one out in the top of the first, Griffin Andreychuk (Nanaimo, B.C.) was hit by a pitch. He advanced to second on a groundout and came around to score on a single to center field by Brian Olson (Black Diamond, Wash.).
New Mexico State (16-20, 7-5 WAC) answered in the bottom of the second, as Jory Goldstrom drew a one-out walk, and Kyle Young followed with a single to right field. Lucas Martinez laced a single to right field that drove in Goldstrom, and the throw home bounced over the catcher’s head, allowing both Young and Martinez to move into scoring position. Young came home on a passed ball, and Martinez would score on a single by Michael Medina to increase the Aggie lead to 3-1.
With two outs in the third inning, Andreychuk was again hit by a pitch, and Landon Cray (Chimacum, Wash.) followed with a single to left field. Olson laced a hit just inside the right field foul line for a single, scoring Andreychuk. However, New Mexico State starting pitcher Robert Kraft held the Redhawk offense at bay through six innings, allowing just six hits and two runs.
After Matt Moriarty came on in relief for the Aggies, pinch hitter Cullen Hendrickson (Auburn, Wash.) drew a walk to lead off the seventh inning, and Andreychuk was hit by a pitch for the third time in the game. Zach Freeman replaced Moriarty and gave up an infield single to Cray to load the bases with one out. Freeman uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Hendrickson to score the game-tying run. After Olson was intentionally walked to reload the bases, Freeman picked up a strikeout and a groundout to end the Redhawk threat with the score tied, 3-3.
The Aggies answered in the bottom of the seventh, as Young drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from pinch hitter Matt Evans, and came around to score on a two-out single through the right side of the infield by Chad Ramsey. Michael Paulson hit a ball up the middle for a single, scoring Medina, who had been intentionally walked.
Freeman finished the game for the Aggies to pick up the victory, allowing two hits and one walk in 2 2/3 innings on the mound with two strikeouts. Medina and Paulson led New Mexico State offensively with two hits apiece.
Grant Gunning (Snohomish, Wash.) took the loss for the Redhawks, giving up two hits, two walks, and two runs in 1 2/3 innings of relief. Ted Hammond (Shoreline, Wash.) made the start for Seattle U, giving up five hits, two walks, and three runs, just one of them earned, in five innings, plus he struck out four batters. Skyler Genger (Kent, Wash.) struck out two Aggie batters in 1 1/3 innings of perfect relief.
The middle of the Seattle U lineup earned most of the team’s hits, as Cray went 3-for-4 and Olson drove in two runs during a 2-for-4 outing. Once again, the Redhawks had trouble bringing runners home, stranding 12 men on base during the afternoon.
Seattle University (17-18, 7-5 WAC) returns home for a midweek contest against nationally-ranked Washington Tuesday, April 22, at Bannerwood Park in Bellevue beginning at 6 p.m. The Redhawks then head back out on the road for a WAC weekend series at North Dakota April 25-27.