MESA, Ariz. – Eastern Oregon University Baseball picked up its first win of the season Friday morning, taking down Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Ariz.) by a final of 8-1. The win brings the Mountaineers' record to 1-1 following day two action at the Coach Calderone Invite.
How it Happened
• Helping Eastern secure the win was a combination of solid hitting early on and clean defense the whole game. They racked up eight hits and had no errors on the day.
• The Eagles (3-3) managed to tally five hits in the contest, but four errors plagued the defense in the loss. Despite the four errors, EOU still scored five earned runs on the Eagles.
• Pitching was efficient for the Mountaineers who needed just three players on the mound. Starter
Nick Jennings pitched four complete, while
Dylan Myers got the win in a relief effort.
• The duo of Jennings and Myers combined for eight strikeouts, while closer
Zach Brown wrapped up the final two innings and had a pair of strikeouts.
• The Mounties once again had a fast start, like the day before, scoring two runs in the opening frame. They tacked on two more runs in the third and four in the fifth to wrap their scoring.
•
Austin Gerding led off the first with a single and stole second.
Brooks Dyer got on with a walk and a
Matt Garcia double brought both runners in to bring the score to 2-0 after one.
• After a scoreless second inning, EOU pushed its lead to 4-0 with a pair of runs in the third. The Eagles managed to get back-to-back strikeouts, but a two-out rally by EOU helped extend the lead.
•
Dane Kelsey was hit by a pitch and immediately got to third on a deep single to right center from Donovan Gonzlez. An error by the Eagles in right field then allowed both Kelsey and Gonzalez to score.
• In the fourth, Jennings wrapped up his day with a quick 1-2-3 outing to get the EOU bats back onto the field. In the bottom of the fourth, Eastern racked up four runs to blow their lead open to 8-0.
• Garcia continued his strong day with a two RBI double to score Gerding and
Kyler Lunny. Kelsey made it 7-0 with an RBI groundout to ring home Dyer.
• The final run for the Mounties camee thanks to another ERAU error, allowing Garcia to come home with ease. It remained 8-0 until the top of the eighth.
• The Eagles avoided the shutout thanks to a pair of hits on a two-out rally. A double to right center and adeep single to left brought in the lone run.
• Despite giving up the one run in the eight, Brown bounced back in the top of the ninth. He forced a double play and struck out the final batter on a swing to end the contest at 8-1.
Mountaineers Stat Leaders
•
Matt Garcia had a day going 3-4 with four RBIs and a run scored.
•
Austin Gerding finished 2-4 with two runs scored and stole two bases.
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Brooks Dyers scored two runs in the win and drew one walk.
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Kyler Lunny and
Donovan Gonzalez each went 1-4 with a run scored.
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Nick Jennings fanned four batters in four innings of work as the starter.
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Dylan Myers (1-0) also had four strikeouts in three innings to secure the win.
For the Eagles
• Kevin Redoruk was 1-2 with a run scored.
• Bryson Ho hit 1-3 in the loss and had an RBI.
• Blake Kaplan (0-2) fanned two batters in three innings pitched.
By the Numbers
7 - The Mounties' seven-run win is their largest since the program's reinstatement.
10 - EOU's pitching staff racked up a season-high 10 strikeouts in Friday's win.
4 -
Matt Garcia's four RBIs are an EOU single game career-high.
0 - Eastern did not have a single error in the win over the Eagles.
5 - EOU tallied five stolen bases in the win.
Up Next
• The Mountaineers will play two contests tomorrow, Jan. 29, to wrap up the Coach Calderone Invite. Their first opponent will be Oklahoma Panhandle State at 9 a.m. PT.
• EOU's second opponent will be their first ranked one of the season when they take on No. 23 Benedictine Mesa. First pitch is scheduled for 1p.m. PT.
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