BEREA, Ky. – The Berea College baseball team scored six runs in the first two innings to defeat Alice Lloyd College 9-6 on Tuesday evening at the Berea College Sports Complex.
The victory snaps the Mountaineer's double-digit losing streak while securing their fifth win of the season.
The Mountaineer offense was led by
Zion Clay and
Michael Vazquez as the freshmen duo recorded two hits and three RBIs apiece for the home squad.
Jayden Junta,
Nick McLaughlin, and
Ricardo Serra backed up their teammates with RBIs of their own.
Berea's bats were hot from the beginning, scoring four runs in the first inning with a two-RBI triple from Clay and an RBI single by Serra. The Mountaineers' bats stayed hot into the second inning as the Mountaineers scored two additional runs off a two-run home run by Vazquez, giving Berea a 6-1 advantage.
The Eagles managed the damage with two runs in the third inning to trim the deficit to 6-3. The Mountaineers continued to apply pressure in the fifth inning with a sacrifice fly RBI from Clay. Alice Lloyd responded by scoring a run in the top of the sixth, but Berea notched two more runs in the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings from an RBI single by Vazquez and McLaughlin earning an RBI on a fielder's choice to give the Mountaineers a 9-4 lead.
The Eagles pulled closer in the top of the eighth inning with an RBI double and RBI single, but the Mountaineers held the opposition at bay for a 9-6 win.
Junta received the win on the mound for the Mountaineers, his third of the season, as he pitched eight innings and struck out five batters.
Eli Brown recorded the first save of his career, pitching one inning with a strikeout and forcing the third batter he faced to hit into a double play to end the contest.
The Berea College baseball team returns to the diamond on Friday as they host conference for Covenant College. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Berea College Sports Complex.
