ERAU Doubles Up Westcliff

PRESCOTT, Ariz. – Embry-Riddle saw its offense come alive in a California Pacific Conference baseball doubleheader against Westcliff, with the Eagles scoring a total of 24 runs on 30 hits to sweep the Warriors by identical scores of 12-3. Senior Travis Strickler (Glendale, Ariz.) had a big day for ERAU, going a combined 5-for-8 with three home runs. He drove in five runs, scored six times, and stole a pair of bases.

Game 1

Westcliff got off to a good start, pushing across three runs in the first inning, getting a pair of RBI doubles in the frame. Junior Josh Beattie (Lakewood, Colo.) put Embry-Riddle on the board in the second, crushing a two-run home run to make it a one-run game.

A four-run fourth for the Eagles proved to be the difference in the game. ERAU only picked up one hit, an RBI single by junior Luke Jepsen (Temecula, Calif.) that tied the game. The Eagles then loaded the bases for Beattie who was hit by the pitch for a 4-3 lead. A wild pitch and a sac fly from junior Kevin Fedoruk (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) closed out the scoring.

Embry-Riddle put it away with three more in the fourth.  Strickler hit one out to center, with junior Roberto Garza-Nunez (Salinas, Calif.) doubling in another run and Jepsen adding an RBI single that made it 9-3.

Junior Mitchell Mussler (Clearwater, Fla.) was solid for ERAU after the first inning and picked up the win, scattering seven hits over seven innings, striking out seven. Sophomore Jonah Montes (Upland, Calif.) finished off the game from the pen, throwing two innings of one-hit ball.

Embry-Riddle picked up insurance runs in the seventh and eighth. Junior Jacob Aguirre (La Verne, Calif.) cranked a solo home run in the seventh and junior Drew Barragan (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.) added an RBI double in the eighth, with the final run coming across on a sac fly by Jepsen.

Game 2

After Westcliff scored a first inning run, Embry-Riddle exploded for six runs in the bottom of the first and never looked back in game two. Strickler started things off with an RBI single, stole second, and then came in on a double by Barragan. Six batters later freshman Miles Murphy (Goodyear, Ariz.) capped it off with a two-RBI base hit and just like that the Eagles were up 6-0.

Westcliff could not get anything going against ERAU starter, junior Aiden Vestbie (Reno, Nev.). After the first inning run, he gave up just six hits the rest of the way, finishing with a complete game victory. Only two of the runs he gave up were earned and he struck out five without allowing a walk.

After the Warriors picked up a run in the fourth to make it a four-run game, ERAU answered with three in its half of the inning that essentially put the game away. Junior Gavin Botts (Lake Forest, Calif.) tripled in a run and then scored on home run by Strickler.

In the sixth Strickler connected again, his third of the doubleheader, going back-to-back with Barragan to give the Eagles an 11-2 advantage and put the contest out of reach for Westcliff.