Baseball returned to action at Hawaii Pacific University on Monday in their second doubleheader against the Sharks in three days. The Eagles split this twinbill, picking up a 10-6 win in the first game, but falling 4-0 in the second to lose the four-game series.
BATES BRINGS THE BATS
Biola got off to a rocky start in game one, quickly falling behind 3-0 after two innings. However, the offense began to click on all cylinders in the third, starting with a big three-run homerun from sophomore center fielder Brandon Cody that tied the game at three. Sophomore first baseman Ryan Gallegos gave his team the lead with an RBI double later in the inning the give the Eagles their first lead of the game.
Senior left fielder Jerron Largusa padded the lead with a two-run blast in the fifth inning to make it 6-3, and junior right fielder RJ Bates picked up an RBI single to pull Biola ahead 7-3 after five innings of play. Just like they did on Saturday, HPU made a late rally, notching three runs in the eighth inning to pull within 7-6.
The Eagles did not let the Sharks steal a win from them this time, as Bates continued his hot hitting with a two-RBI double. Freshman catcher Caleb Watson picked up an RBI on a groundout and Biola held on to win 10-6.
Senior left-handed pitcher Dallas Burk started the game and pitched four innings, allowing three runs. Sophomore right-hander Anthony Villegas entered in the fifth and picked up the win for the Eagles, while junior right-hander Josh Ludeman picked up the save in 1.1 innings of work.
OFFENSE GOES SILENT
In the nightcap of the doubleheader, the Eagles’ bats went entirely quiet. Ludeman got the start, but was pulled after two innings of work with no runs allowed. The game remained scoreless until the fifth inning, when HPU broke through with four runs.
The offense was not able to muster anything against the pitching staff of the Sharks, tallying only two hits the entire game as HPU took the 4-0 victory.
The Eagles (4-5) open PacWest conference play on Thursday at 8 p.m. at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.
