BELLEVUE, Wash. — Seattle U baseball was victorious on Friday, notching a 4-2 victory over Pacific, at Bannerwood Park. The Redhawk bats were efficient on the day knocking in four runs on eight hits en route to improving to 4-4 on the year.
Trevor Antonson (1-2) proved a jolt to the offense in the fifth, lifting Seattle U to a 3-0 lead, as the freshman launched a two-run blast to left for his first collegiate home run.
The Redhawks broke a scoreless tie in the fourth as Nolan Jekich (1-4) went from first to third on a double by Julian Kodama (1-4), before a Tigers' fielding error allowed him to cross home. Gavin Rork (1-3) the registered a sac bunt RBI in the seventh which brought Kyle Sherick (2-4) in for the final Seattle U tally.
The highlight of the day though came from the mound, as Redhawks starter Jarrod Billig (1-1) put together a stellar performance leaving Pacific empty-handed, throwing six-scoreless innings with six strikeouts, as he was credited with the win.
Billig was on-point early as he retired nine of the first 11 batters faced. He then recorded back-to-back 1-2-3 frames in the fourth and fifth. Pacific drew a lead-off walk in the sixth, but Billig keep the Tigers scoreless sat down the next three batters with a pair of fly outs and a strikeout looking.
The Tigers then threatened in the seventh as they tallied a lead-off triple off reliever Alex Jemal (2.0 IP). The Redhawks and Jemal however left the runner stranded as the next three batters went down in order.
Pacific then capitalized on back-to-back SU errors in the eighth as it pushed two runs across to erase the shutout, making 4-2. Brandon Jenkins then closed the game, working a hitless ninth with one strikeout, en route to his first career save.
Pacific starter Lucas Sweany was dealt the loss, allowing four runs on eight hits in 6.2 innings.
The series is set to resume with a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 29, however due to wet weather in the forecast first-pitch has been pushed up to 12 pm. For updates, news and more be sure to follow @SeattleUBase on Twitter.