Massive Hawks rally ousts Ottawa, 10-9

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: March 18, 2023

2023 SAN DIEGO CHRISTIAN COLLEGE DIAMOND SPORTS / Men’s Baseball & Women’s Softball

ECS staff report

LINDA VISTA – Although the wins total may be few for the San Diego Christian College baseball team, when the Hawks finally gain a cherished “W” it always seems to come with a flair for the dramatic. Friday’s (Mar. 17) Golden State Athletic Conference contest provednot to be an exception.

San Diego Christian was trailing visiting Ottawa University (Ariz.), 9-3, in the middle of the sizith inning, but then the Hawks erupted for seven unanswered runs while the bullpen kept the Spirit off the scoreboard over the balance of the contest, taking a wild 10-9 triumph at San Clemente-Sandback Memorial Field at San Diego Mesa College.

Since the second game of the doubleheader was called off earlier in the day due to wet grounds, SDCC was able to utilize its entire bullpen, and they came through. Capped by strong showings from Chay Esqueda (2.1 frames), Spencer Jenkins and Chandler DeJong, the Hawks blanked Ottawa over the final 5.2 inning to give the offense a chance to recover.

Ottawa allowed a run in the fifth, so started the sixth in ultra-conservation mood by walking the leadoff batter in Tre Pankratz, the clean-up batter. Bit mistake, as Trevor Baker 1b followed with a 3-run home to left field, then Matt Beckworth dinglrf in a run.

The Beckworth was important because it set-up the same leadoff hitters for the Hawksin the seventh, by the hosts driving scored three times to take the lead.

Two walks and a one-out error loaded the bases, then a fielder’s choice grounder brought in a run. However, the error also allowed SDCC to turnover its batting order, as shortstop Hudson Beamon ss ripped a two-run double over the hed of the center fielder to give the Hawks their first lead ofr the ballgame.

Beamon and Baker finished with two hits, as the Hawks, otherwise, won with just three other basehits.

The ballclubs return for a scheduled doubleheader on Saturday at 112 am,, again at Mesa College.

HAWKS 10, SPIRIT 9
Ottawa (Ariz.) (11-11-1, 5-4-1 GSAC)... 410 130 000 -  9 13 5
San Diego Christian (4-19, 3-7 GSA..... 001 213 30x - 10  7 0

BOXSCORE

Softball

Menlo 4, San Diego Christian College 3
Menlo 2, San Diego Christian College 1 (8 inn.)

ATHERTON -San Diego Christian College has the opportunity to move back among the leaders in the Golden State Athletic Conference, but late-inning pitching woes or a huge defensive mistake again doomed the Hawks in both ends of a doubleheader to host Menlo College, 4-3 and 2-1 in 8 innings.

In the openver, the Oaks scored twice in the fifth f and sixth inning — both against different pitchers — tto rally for the victory. Game 2 saw an error

SDCC held early leadsin both contests, but something faltered each time.

In the opener, consecutive leadoff triples and a sacrifice fly tied the contest in the fifth. An inning later, the Oaks stole third base, but a throwing error allowed the go-ahead run to score.

Game 2 was no different, when a Menlo baserunner stole Grace Christian both second and third base.,coming home on a walk-off sngle by Emma Medina.

For the Hawks, the offense came from their first two batters — second baseman Alicia Corna (3 hits) and left fielder Serena Shine Alicia (2 hits in each game). The rest of the batting order a mere 5-for-40.

Amaryssa Medina, the Game 2 pitcher for the Hawks, went all 7.1 innings, but lost on an unearned run on the international tiebreaker baserunner.

San Diego Chridstian completes its Northern California road swung Saturday with a GSAC twinbill at Jessup University.