Baseball out-hits SUNO in Opening Games
Wiley University shortstop Abel Rodriguez Jr. gave the Wildcats the lead with a home run in the third inning of a 7-5 victory. The Wildcats hit three home runs, including a grand slam by Armand Daigre that helped them overcome an eight-run deficit in a 12-10 Game 2 victory over Southern University at New Orleans in Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference games Saturday at Coker Field.
Wiley (30-13, 22-4 HBCUAC) extends its winning streak to eight games and guarantees finishing in the top two of the HBCUAC standings. The victories give the Wildcats their eighth series win.
In the first game, they fell behind after allowing a leadoff home run. In the second inning, Ryan Ready led off with a single and Ivan Del Villar hit a double. After the next batters grounded and popped out, Ready tied the game, scoring on a passed ball.
Rodriguez led off the third with his first home run. Eddie Garza walked and advanced to third when the first baseman couldn't handle a pickoff throw. He scored on a double steal with Jacob Perez swiping second and advancing to third on an error. Ready scored Perez on a double. Jhan Carlos Javier brought home Ready with a line drive off the shortstop's glove.
Wiley increased its lead to five with Adrian Cindo scoring on a double steal and Rodriguez coming home on an error. The Knights committed four errors. Southern University at New Orleans closed the gap to two with three runs on three hits in the fifth. Jalen Porter retired the last six batters he faced to seal the win.
He struck out eight batters as he picked up his seventh win and third complete game. Rodriguez and Ready each got two hits and scored two runs.
Wiley fell behind in the second game after allowing seven runs on four hits an an error. The Knights first six batters reached and 11 came to the plate. The Wildcats allowed a run on three hits in the third. Eddie Garza got them on the board with his second home run. With one out, Jacob Perez hit his sixth home run. Ivan Del Villar reached on a fielder's choice and scored on a double by Javier.
In the fourth inning, Javier caught a fly ball and threw it to Rodriguez, who then threw it to Ready to complete a double play. Brendan Mendoza drew a walk to lead off the fourth. Rodriguez followed with a single and Adrian Cindo, who courtesy ran for Mendoza, advanced to third - running on the pitch. Garza picked up his second RBI with a single. Ready cut the margin to two with a two-RBI single. A bases-loaded walk by Javier pulled the Wildcats within one. Armand Daigre put the Wildcats in front, launching the ball over the left-center field wall for his third home run and first grand slam. Wiley sent 12 batters to the plate and SUNO used three pitchers to get out of the inning.
Garza went 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI and Ready went 2-for-3 with a run and two RBI. Javier brought home two runs with one hit. Nick Rodriguez picked up his seventh win after throwing 6 1/3 innings in relief. He held the Knights scoreless in four innings. Ethan Jones earned his second save after retiring two of the three batters he faced.
The Wildcats conclude the series at noon tomorrow.
For more coverage on the Wildcats visit https://wileyathletics.com/sports/bsb/index
About Wiley University Athletics
Wiley University sponsors 12 varsity sports: women's volleyball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's indoor track and field, men's and women's outdoor track and field and baseball. It competes in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) and the Continental Athletic Conference for men's and women's soccer.
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