SURPRISE, Ariz. – The OUAZ baseball team scored 11 runs in the seventh and eighth innings on Tuesday night to propel the Spirit to a 13-4 win over Okanagan in the opening game of a two-game series.
Tied at 2-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh, OUAZ (4-3) struck for five runs in the frame. After
Chandler Reynard delivered a 2-run triple to make it 6-2,
Chuck Steele homered to left to put the Spirit ahead 8-2.
Reynard would strike again in the bottom of the eighth, this time with a grand slam over the wall in left to complete the day's scoring. His first home run of the season was the first grand slam in school history, and he set a school record with his six RBI in the win.
The Spirit knocked out 11 hits with
Sam Haney and
Adrian Salazar adding doubles along the way. Salazar, Steele, and Juan Navarette joined Reynard with two-hit games.
Travis Hawkins went the first three innings on the mound for the Spirit and allowed two runs on four hits with a pair of strikeouts.
Devon Lindley recorded the win after posting three strikeouts and one hit allowed in the seventh inning.
Nolan King finished 2 for 5 with a triple and RBI for Okanagan (1-5). Noah Zenkiwich suffered the loss after allowing three runs (two earned) in his one inning.
The two teams will close the series on Wednesday on the Royals practice fields at Surprise Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
