SEATTLE — The Seattle U (13-24, 7-16 WAC) bats were cold during its Saturday doubleheader, as the Redhawks dropped game one to California Baptist (28-11, 20-3 WAC), 7-4 before falling 6-1 in game two. The Redhawks were held to nine total hits while the Lancers finished the day with 22.
The Redhawks and Lancers will wrap up the four-game set from Bannerwood Park tomorrow with the series finale. First pitch is slated for 10 am.
Game 1: Seattle U 4, California Baptist 7
Seattle U fell into a deep hole in the opener as the Lancers ran out to a 7-0 lead after the three as they plated three in the first before adding four more in the third.
The Redhawk were silenced early as the first eight hitters were retired in order before Kellen Carr ended the drought in the third with a two-out base knock to shallow right. He finished the day 1-for-1 at the plate.
In the fourth, the bats started to warm up as Seattle U scored four runs, cutting the deficit to 7-4.
The Redhawks led off the inning with runners at first and second, as Connor O'Brien reached on a lead-off error advancing on a single from Justin Mazzone.
Following a wild pitch that moved both runners 90 feet, O'Brien tallied the opening run thanks to a slow roller to first by Derek Gellos. Mazzone then touched home on a base knock by Grant Heiser. Kyle Sherick then trimmed the margin to three with a two-run to left, with Hesier and Chase Wells scoring on the play. Wells reached on a double in the prior at bat.
The offense then cooled as CBU retired 11 of the final 13 batters faced. During that stretch, Mazzone and Gellos accounted as the only Seattle U base runners, with Mazzone doubling while Gellos drew a walk in the fifth. Mazzone finished with a team-best 2-for-3 outing.
The Lancers were held scoreless from the fourth inning and on, as they stranded eight runners, including six in scoring position.
Starter Alex Jemal (2-7) suffered the loss after surrendering seven runs, five earned, on 12 hits in 4.2 innings. Ethan Brown recorded the final out in the fifth as he helped Seattle U escape a bases loaded jam. Lucas Ford and Alex McBee also made scoreless relief appearances.
Game 2: Seattle U 1, California Baptist 6
In the closer, Gavin Rork accounted for two of the three Redhawks hits, as he singled in back-to-back plate appearances, while Mazzone filled out the balance with a base hit in the ninth.
The lone Seattle U tally came in third, as Sherick scored from second on a designed hit-and-run. Rork provided the assistance with a base knock through the middle for his seventh RBI of the year. Sherick reached on a fielder's choice before moving into scoring position with his 12th steal of the season.
On the mound, starter Peter Chronowski had a strong start to his outing as he retired five of the first six batters faced. The left-hander however then hit a bump in the road as CBU scored two runs in the third, scratched an unearned tally in the fourth before scoring twice more in the fifth to make it 5-1. Despite recording back-to-back 1-2-3 innings in the next two frames, Chronowski was eventually charged with the loss after a seven-inning performance. Kohl Petersen then worked a two-inning relief appearance, allowing one run on two hits.