SAN DIEGO, California — Powered by a season-high performance at the plate, Seattle U topped Southern Illinois, 9-2, on Sunday in its final game of the Tony Gwynn Legacy stopping a two-game slide. The Redhawks (3-4) pushed nine different runners across, as they outhit the SIU, 15-10 and left the Salukis with 10 runners on base.
Justin Mazzone led the way with a 3-for-4 outing, while Connor O'Brien also notched a three-hit day in five at-bats. Gavin Rork 2-3), Julian Kodama (2-5) and Drake Maningo meanwhile each followed with two-hits apiece.
In his first-career start as a Redhawk, left-hander Alex McBee (1-0) was efficient in his performance allowing one run on four hits, in five innings of work, en route to earning the win.
After surrendering a run in the top half of the first, Seattle U responded with a season-high five runs in the home half of the inning. The Redhawks scored back-to-back-to-back runs in the first with RBI-singles from Nolan Jekich, Kodama and Maningo with Rork, O'Brien and Jekich scoring respectively.
While still in the first, SIU then went to the bullpen as Chase Wells drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases. Grant Heiser then tallied his first collegiate RBI with a sac fly to center allowing Kodama to make it 4-1. The bats continued to apply pressure to the Salukis as Trevor Antonson drew the third walk of the inning. Maningo was then driven in on a single by Rork before Southern Illinois finally closed the inning.
Seattle U then added one run in the second, before tacking three more in the fifth as Wells, Heiser and Antonson each touched home.
The Salukis tried to threatened with three-straight hits to lead off the sixth, but were only granted one run, trimming the score to 9-2, stranding two runners in scoring possible as the next three batters were retired.
During the final three innings, the bullpen platoon of Tyler Yeh (0.2 IP), Desmond Parisotto (1.1 IP), Kohl Petersen (1.0 IP), and Brandon Jenkins (1.0 IP) were solid in their respect relief appearances, conceding just three hits in 12 batters faced. Offensively meanwhile, the bats looked to extend their margin in the seventh with bases loaded, but unfortunately left empty-handed.
Seattle U resumes non-conference action on next weekend, as its scheduled to host a four-game series with Pacific at Bannerwood Park. First pitch of the series opener with the Tigers is slated for 4 pm. Single-game tickets for the series and all Redhawk baseball home games are available by visiting GoSeattleU.com/tix.