Seattle University put five runs on the board in the first inning, and then used another quality start from Will Dennis (Saratoga, Calif.) to eventually earn an 11-1 victory over New Mexico State Friday afternoon in a Western Athletic Conference collegiate baseball game at Bannerwood Park.
After Dennis retired the Aggies in order in the top of the first inning, Griffin Andreychuk (Nanaimo, B.C.) and Dalton Hurd (Bend, Ore.) led off the bottom of the first inning with back-to-back singles, and Sheldon Stober (Kent, Wash.) drew a walk to load the bases. Brian Olson (Black Diamond, Wash.) sent a line drive into right field that fell for a single, scoring Andreychuk.
With one out, Brock Carpenter (Milton, Wash.) drew a walk that forced in Hurd. Michael McCann (Vancouver, Wash.) sent a bouncing ball through the right side of the infield for a single that drove in Stober, and an Aggie error allowed Olson to score from second base. Carpenter also took an extra base on the error and came in to score on a groundout by Colin Peterson (Bellingham, Wash.).
In the second inning, Hurd drew a one-out walk, and Stober followed with a double to left-center field, scoring Hurd from first base. New Mexico State answered in the top of the third inning as Jay Sheeley and Daniel Kennon led off with consecutive singles, and both runners advanced one base on a sacrifice bunt by Aaron Duran. Sheeley would score on a sacrifice fly to right field by Quinnton Mack, but Dennis struck out the next Aggie batter to prevent any further damage.
Dennis threw 92 pitches over eight innings, 58 of them for strikes, as he earned his fifth victory of the season. He allowed five hits, two walks, and one run while picking up three strikeouts, plus he was helped by the defense turning three double plays.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Curtis Perrin (Vancouver, Wash.) reached on an error, and Hurd was hit by a pitch. Stober laced his second double of the game, this one to left field, scoring Perrin, while Hurd would come home to score on an error committed by New Mexico State.
Stober led off the eighth inning with a single, and Grant Newton (Bend, Ore.) would hit a one-out home run over the wall in right field. Carpenter and Sean Sutton (Coeur d’Alene, Idaho) earned back-to-back singles, Eric Koenig (Auburn, Wash.) picked up a two-out single to load the bases, and Andreychuk drew a walk, forcing in Carpenter with the run that would invoke the conference’s 10-run rule, ending the game earlier than scheduled.
Stober went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI, with four other Redhawks collecting two hits apiece and Hurd scoring three times. Kennon led the Aggie offense with a 2-for-3 performance.
New Mexico State (4-25-1, 1-8-1 WAC) started Riley Barr on the mound, and Barr took the loss after allowing nine hits, three walks, and eight runs, five of them earned, in six innings of work, plus he struck out six Redhawk batter. Zach Freeman came on in relief and gave up seven hits, two walks, and three runs in 1 2/3 innings on the mound.
Seattle University (17-15, 9-1 WAC) continues the three-game series against New Mexico State Saturday, April 11, at Bannerwood Park. The game is now scheduled to begin at 12 p.m., as the forecast calls for rain to move into the area later Saturday afternoon. Fans are encouraged to visit GoSeattleU.com, follow Seattle U Athletics on Facebook, or follow @su_athletics on Twitter.