PHOENIX, AZ - Seattle U baseball won a wild one in game 1 of their 3-game series with Grand Canyon, 9-8, Thursday night in Arizona. After losing an 8-0 lead over the Lopes, it was the Alberghini brothers to the rescue to help secure the series opener.
"Great win in the desert!" said head coach Donny Harrel after the win. "Guys came out swinging and then GCU made great adjustments to get back into the game."
The Redhawks bats took no time to warm up in the ball game as they scored eight runs between the first two innings. Trevor Antonson got the hit party started with a 2-run home run to left field, followed by RBI from Matt Boissoneault, Jackson Lind, Ryne Hays, Derek Gellos, and Boissoneault again.
From there, the Seattle U offense was stifled while GCU would go on a run of their own. The Lopes would score the next eight runs in the game to tie it up through eight. After a scoreless 9th, both sides prepared for extras.
Leading off for the Redhawks to start the top of the 10th was Kai Alberghini. After going hitless in his four prior at-bats in the game, the outfielder launched an 0-1 count deep over the left field wall to propel Seattle U back out in front by one.
Now with the lead once again with the lead, Kaden Alberghini, who came on in the 8th, walked back out onto the mound with a chance to secure the first colligate win of his career. After getting a ground out and pop up, Kaden struck out the last Lope batter to give the Redhawks the 9-8 victory.
"So cool that Kai hits the game winning home run, and his brother Kaden shuts out GCU in the 10th to pick up his first college win," Harrel added of the Alberghini brothers. "Baseball is a game of firsts and have never had that happen ever in my career."
The win was the Redhawk's first over GCU since 2018, and their first win over them as a true road team since 2017. SU now improves to 8-18 on the season and to 6-7 in conference play. They have a chance to win only their second ever series with the Lopes tomorrow, April 7, at 6pm PT. Peter Chronowski will get the call on the mound to try and make it 3-straight conference series wins.
"Great win in the desert!" said head coach Donny Harrel after the win. "Guys came out swinging and then GCU made great adjustments to get back into the game."
The Redhawks bats took no time to warm up in the ball game as they scored eight runs between the first two innings. Trevor Antonson got the hit party started with a 2-run home run to left field, followed by RBI from Matt Boissoneault, Jackson Lind, Ryne Hays, Derek Gellos, and Boissoneault again.
From there, the Seattle U offense was stifled while GCU would go on a run of their own. The Lopes would score the next eight runs in the game to tie it up through eight. After a scoreless 9th, both sides prepared for extras.
Leading off for the Redhawks to start the top of the 10th was Kai Alberghini. After going hitless in his four prior at-bats in the game, the outfielder launched an 0-1 count deep over the left field wall to propel Seattle U back out in front by one.
Now with the lead once again with the lead, Kaden Alberghini, who came on in the 8th, walked back out onto the mound with a chance to secure the first colligate win of his career. After getting a ground out and pop up, Kaden struck out the last Lope batter to give the Redhawks the 9-8 victory.
"So cool that Kai hits the game winning home run, and his brother Kaden shuts out GCU in the 10th to pick up his first college win," Harrel added of the Alberghini brothers. "Baseball is a game of firsts and have never had that happen ever in my career."
The win was the Redhawk's first over GCU since 2018, and their first win over them as a true road team since 2017. SU now improves to 8-18 on the season and to 6-7 in conference play. They have a chance to win only their second ever series with the Lopes tomorrow, April 7, at 6pm PT. Peter Chronowski will get the call on the mound to try and make it 3-straight conference series wins.