Bozoian has grand time in split with Menlo
- Updated: March 11, 2017
2017 SAN DIEGO CHRISTIAN HAWKS BASEBALL
EastCountySports.com staff report
SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Christian Hawks defeated their second NAIA top-ten opponent in two weeks on Saturday after splitting a doubleheader with the NAIA sxith-ranked Menlo College Oaks on Saturday.
The Hawks won the opener, 7-4, before dropping the nightcap, 14-7, in a twinbill played at Point Loma Nazarene University.
In the opener, the Hawks third started with a single by BROOKS FAGES, who moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by ZACH AMBROSE. STEVEN PICO’s RBI single to right center opened the scoring for an SDC 1-0 lead.
In the Oaks fourth, a leadoff home run to right field and a subsequent homer gave the Oaks a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth.
The Hawks countered in the sixth with singles by Pico and JUSTIN HAWKINS, which chased the Oaks’ starter. A wild pitch and a ground out RBI by VAHN BOZOIAN tied the score at 2-2.
The lead was short-lived as the Oaks opened the seventh with a double followed by a home run for a 6-4 Menlo lead.
Two at bats later, after two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Ambrose and pinch-hitter JOSH SIDLEY started off the inning. Pico’s single brought in pinch runner JOEL PADRETTI for the first run. A single by Hawkins loaded the bases. Bozoian followed with a right center grand slam off the scoreboard to finish his 5 RBI game and give SDC a 7-4 lead.
Bozian has had a rough season to date, hitting .174 with 18 strikeouts, as the junior has tried to resurrect his college baseball career at SDC, but the big right fielder, who played at USC and Concordia, had his biggest moment as a Hawk with the blast.
Hawk starter, CALEB RODUSKY, pitched a strong 7 innings with 11 strike outs and held the Oaks to 4 runs. The win moved his record to 3-2 and moved the Hawks to 6-12 for the season. JEREMIAH WILEY came in to get the save on 2 innings of no hit, 3 strike out pitching.
Game 2
The Oaks started early in game two with a run-scoring double to left field for a 1-0 lead. Maxwell scored when the throw to second hit runner and went to center field. With runners at first and third, A 3-run homer gave the Oaks a 5-0 early lead. In the second, Menlo increased the lead to 10-0 with a double and three home runs.
The Hawks started to get some offense going in the fourth inning with a single by Bozoian and a 2-run blast to left field by CAEDEN BARNES, narrowing the score to 10-2. Singles by BOBBY SCHUMAN and Ambrose set the table for a 2-RBI double by TYLER WILSON making it 10-4. Wilson was thrown out at third base trying to stretch out a triple.
Menlo added three more runs in the sixth. This chased SDC’s BEN PARKER from the mound after 4 strong innings of relief. The Oaks added another run in the seventh to make it a 14-4 Oaks lead.
SDC scratched out three runs in the bottom of the inning on hits by Ambrose, JORDAN EADS, AUSTIN YEOMAN Bozoian to end the scoring at 14-7.
The Hawks LOGAN TAYLOR (0-1) took the loss.The Oaks moved to 19-4 on the season and SDC fell back to 6-13.
The Oaks moved to 19-4 on the season and SDC fell back to 6-13.
