W 8-1
Recap
SCORE:
- Dordt def. Briar Cliff, 8-1
RECORDS:
- Dordt: 4-3 (GPAC), 8-15
- Briar Cliff: 5-2 (GPAC), 16-8
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Dordt University baseball team pushed their win streak to three games in defeating Briar Cliff 8-1 in game one of a GPAC doubleheader played tonight at Open Space Park.
Diego Benitez (2-3) pitched a complete-game gem for the Defenders and kept the Briar Cliff hitters off balance, mixing up a strong fastball coupled with an effective breaking ball. Benitez allowed two hits, both singles, walked four and struck out seven in an 105-pitch effort.
Briar Cliff opened the scoring with an unearned run in the top of the first inning. Cam Riemer reached base with an infield single, stole second and advanced to third on a Dordt error. He scored on a throw down to first base after a strikeout by Jake Allen.
Dordt responded with a four-spot in the home half of the first, scoring four runs on one hit, three walks and a Briar Cliff error. Luke November singled and courtesy runner, Parker Hamann, advanced to second off a BCU error on a ball hit by Chase Edwards. Three consecutive walks to Anthony Klinzing, Dylan Stanley and Jaeyoun Kim, along with two passed balls, put the Defenders up 4-1.
Dordt added to its lead with a two-run second inning. Nolan Christianson led off with a single, advanced to third on a double by Logan Cline and both players scored after a two-run single by November.
The Defenders closed out the scoring when Cade Hollingsworth lined a two-run home run to centerfield, scoring Stanley, with one out in the fifth.
BY THE NUMBERS:
Dordt totaled eight hits; Luke November was the lone Defender with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs
Cade Hollingsworth hit his first home run of the season
Logan Cline extended his hit streak to 13 games with a double in the second inning; the senior has now hit safely in 21 of 23 games
Benitez earned his second win and pitched his second complete game of the season
Chargers' starter, Rylan Aamold (2-2), took the loss, giving up six hits and two earned runs in two-plus innings
Cam Riemer and Matthew Hmielewski had singles for the Chargers