Hawks surprise Tritons in exhibition opener
- Updated: January 22, 2019
2019 SAN DIEGO CHRISTIAN HAWKS BASEBALL
Courtesy, SDCC Media Relations
LA JOLLA (1-23-2019) — Brandall Buckles Jr. recorded the last five outs as the San Diego Christian College baseball team defeated NCAA Div. II No. 14 UC San Diego, 7-4, in an exhibition game for both teams on Tuesday (Jan. 22) night.
While the game doesn’t count in the overall record, the Hawks, who were projected to finish ninth in the Golden State Athletic Conference preseason poll, hung on after the Tritons scored three runs in the eighth inning, while having the tying run at the plate in the ninth.
With the bases loaded in the 8th, Buckles hunkered down and retired the first batter on an infield fly followed by a big strikeout from an off-speed pitch to limit the damage.
Buckles retired the first batter in the ninth. After a walk and a stolen base, but stopped UCSD on a strikeout on a 3-2 pitch, then after another walk, nailed another Tritons batters looking on a 2-2 pitch on the corner to register the save.
Buckles was the final of nine pitchers utilized by the Hawks. Left-hander Leo Soto was awarded the victory. But are juniors.
Tied at 1-1 in the third, the Hawks grabbed the lead for good on an RBI groundout scoring Tyler Schindel from third base. Mario Morales then hit a double down the left field line as Joel Pedretti trotted home for a 3-1 lead.
Hayden Gilbert was key for the Hawks in the fifth and sixth innings. His RBI double in the fifth scored Schindel and his single in the sixth scored Anderson increasing their lead to 5-1.
A bases-loaded walk by Ryan Lystlund gave the Hawks their sixth and a sac fly from Schindel capped the scoring for SDC with Josh LaMonte scoring the seventh run.
The Hawks will play their first countable games this Friday and Saturday. They will host Bethesda starting at 11 a.m. Friday at Barona Stars Field.
