BRADENTON, Fla. - Behind a gam from its ace and a combined 19 runs of total offense, NCF Baseball opened its four-game weekend series with Bethel University with a seven-inning doubleheader sweep of the Pilots at IMG Academy Saturday, winning Game 1 8-0 and Game 2 11-8.
The two wins extend NCF's winning streak to five.
Game 1
It was all Mighty Banyans in Game 1 as NCF struck for three runs in the bottom of the second, highlighted by RBI doubles from both
Rylan Jomisko and
Andrew Merchant and then scored three more in the bottom of the fourth, headlined by RBI singles from
Matthew Merk and
Patrick Fink.
NCF added two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth, which was more than enough for its ace
Ryan Swartz.
The right-hander was dominant, allowing just three runners to reach base over 6.0 innings of work as he struck out 10 Pilots, allowed just one hit (an infield single), walked only one and hit a batter. By earning the win, he improved to 3-0 on the season and lowered his ERA to 2.05 over four starts.
Game 2
NCF found itself in a quick 4-0 hole in Game 2 as the Pilots plated four in the top of the first, but the Mighty Banynas wasted no time getting right back in the ball game.
The Mighty Banyans got two runs back in the bottom half of the first by way of a wild pitch and passed ball and then in the bottom of the second rallied for three runs to go on top 5-4 as Antwan Jackson ripped an RBI single and came around to score on a ground ball while Merk also delivered an RBI single.
After the Pilots tied the game back up at 5-5 in the top of the third, NCF struck for six in the bottom half of the frame to go on top 11-5 as Merchant worked a bases loaded walk, a fielders choice allowed
Miguel Pena to score, both
Brian Garcia and
Brecken Fair delivered RBI singles, Garcia scored on a fielders choice, Â and
Robert Hoffman, running for Merk, scored on a passed ball.
The Pilots rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh, forcing
Hunter Squire to enter in relif in a save situation, but he was able to get the lone man he faced to fly out and end the game.
Up Next: NCF, now 10-4 on the season and Bethel will play another doubleheader consisting of two seven-inning contests Sunday beginning at 1 p.m. EST at the IMG Academy Baseball Stadium.
