ARLINGTON, Texas – The Dallas Christian College baseball team picked up a 13-11 victory over NCAA Division III Blackburn College on Thursday afternoon at neutral site University of Texas at Arlington. The NCAA Division I facility hosted this neutral site game with the Crusaders batting as the visiting team, a first for DCC in its 18
th game this spring.
The Crusaders jumped out to a 6-0 lead, but would have to answer a nine-run sixth with six runs of their own in the seventh. Despite a pair of runs allowed in the ninth, DCC would hang on to win. It was their third win in the past four games since last Saturday when they put up a season-high 18 runs against Champion Christian College. The Crusaders also improved to 4-4 on the campaign against NCAA Division III opponents.
DCC pounded 19 hits and neither team committed an error in this game. Eight different Crusaders in the starting lineup registered at least one hit, while seven had multi-hit game performances. All nine players did reach base safely.
Marcos Franjul, who matched Manny Valenzuela with three RBI, was able to get two of his in the first inning with a single through the left side to score
Travis Whitehurst and
Brandon Andrews.
A wild pitch got
Stefon Reyes to score in the third inning, which was part of his team-leading three in the box score. Reyes led off the frame with a long at bat that resulted in a walk. He moved to second on a wild pitch and then third on the first out being a ground out. With two outs, he would have come home regardless, as
Cooper Ness doubled to right field.
Speaking of doubles, the Crusaders walloped five with the next two coming in the fifth inning that highlighted a three-run inning and doubled the advantage to six runs.
Josh Freeman doubled to center field to score Reyes and Valenzuela pulled one to left field that scored two runs on the hit.
The momentum shifted in the sixth inning, as the Beavers got all-but two of their runs for the game and were able to come-back and grab a three-run lead. Two doubles by RJ Arredondo and Adam Holm started the scoring and made it a 6-3 game. Down 6-5, Andrew Lozan drove an inside the park grand slam to center field and capped the massive inning.
DCC showed that would not halt its spirits, as it immediately came out with five runs in its next turn to bat. Valenzuela singled to left and scored Ness. Reyes knotted the game as a bases-loaded hit through the right side plated
Jaylen Camarillo and Valenzuela. Andrew crossed for the go-ahead run on a wild pitch. Franjul singled to make it 11-9 and Freeman doubled to center to wrap up the counter-inning.
Gustavio Silverio added insurance with a home run in the eighth.
Blackburn rallied with three hits after DCC's
Casey Morrow entered with one out looking to close out the win. Things got a little rocky in the process, as his two inherited runners that had reached via walks would come in on the first two hits mentioned. After a strikeout looking to Antonio Mass, a single by Ian Sullivan loaded the bases. Thankfully, Blaine Dunni popped up to first and the Crusaders escaped with a huge triumph.
Collin Patten started and went 5.2 innings. He was charged five runs on nine hits. He did not allow a walk and struck out two.
Trey Vento did claim the win with 2.2 innings of relief work. He did allow three walks and was charged three runs, including those final two. Morrow locked down the second team save for the Crusaders on the year and his first.
The Beavers were led by Kolton Beckett with five innings in the start. He fanned six batters, but did allow six runs on 10 hits and walked two. Holm was the hitting standout with a 4-for-5 and double. He drove in two runs and came in once.
Both of these teams are going to take part in a two-day round robin tournament at Dallas Christian on March 11-12.
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Dallas Christian will host Dakota State University on Friday morning at 9:30 a.m. and Capital University around 3 p.m. The busy week concludes with Dakota State for the final afternoon game on Saturday.
"Dallas Christian educates and mentors students to be people of influence engaging in their calling to the work of Christ in the church and in the world."
