ERAU Drops Final Doubleheader at No. 13 Hope International

FULLERTON, CALIF. – One bad inning continues to follow around the Embry-Riddle baseball team, and Saturday was no different. A large offensive inning by 10^th-ranked Hope International in each game of a doubleheader spoiled ERAU's chances at not only two big wins, but for a series split to end its road trip.

Game 1: #10 Hope International 20, Embry-Riddle 10

The Eagles bats got going early once again, scoring a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Calvin Solie scored the first run of the day by going on adventure – singling to get on base, stealing second, then took third and home on separate wild pitches.

Embry-Riddle would jump out to a 7-4 lead when they tacked on five runs in the top of the third inning. The Eagles recorded six hits as well, putting together one of its best offensive innings of the season.

After Roberto Garza-Nunez had an RBI single in the first inning, he drove in two more with a single in the third. All of the Eagle runs in the third came via the single, as Miles Murphy, Travis Strickler and Javier Izaguirre each had an RBI during the frame.

Despite a big offensive inning by HIU in the fifth, Embry-Riddle continued to fight back. The Eagles scored a pair of runs in the sixth thanks to RBI from Murphy and Garza-Nunez, then Murphy tacked on a sacrifice RBI in the eighth.

Garza-Nunez and Murphy combined for seven of the nine RBI from the Eagles in the first game on Saturday. Garza-Nunez had a game-high three hits as well, adding a double in that trio of knocks.

Jonah Montes had a good two innings of work for the Eagles in relief, not allowing a run and striking out four batters. In all, the ERAU staff recorded eight punchouts to start Saturday.

Game 2: #10 Hope International 9, Embry-Riddle 8

After falling behind 1-0 after the first inning, ERAU fired back in a big way during the third inning. The Eagles scored six times in that third frame on five hits and used aggressive baserunning to get on the board in style.

Gavin Botts brought home the first run of the game with a single, and then would steal home to record a run himself. Luke Jepsen picked up a pair of RBI with a double to center field, then Drew Barragan get two RBI with a single in the next at-bat.

Embry-Riddle would add another run in the fifth thanks to a Drew Barragan single, but the back-breaking three-run home run in the sixth gave Hope International a 9-7 lead going into the final inning. Solie would get on via a leadoff single and come around to score thanks to Jepsen, but ERAU was unable to tie the contest.

The Eagles would finish with 10 hits, and four different players each recorded two-hit efforts.  Botts, Solie, Jepsen and Barragan would each have two knocks, plus Jepsen and Barragan had three RBI each.

There will be a ten day break away from games for ERAU as they will have one final weekend off before conference play begins. One more non-conference game awaits before the Cal Pac opener, as the Eagles will visit Arizona Christian on Tuesday, February 21.