SURPRISE, Ariz. – The OUAZ baseball team brought its 2019 season to a close by sweeping a doubleheader against Cetys Universidad on Wednesday afternoon at the Surprise Stadium Complex. OUAZ took the first game 11-9 before completing the sweep with an 11-2 win in the nightcap.
GAME 1
In a game that saw the teams give the lead back-and-forth, it was the Spirit that came away with the win. After Cetys scored twice in the top of the sixth to tie the game at 5-5, OUAZ scored six times in the bottom of the inning to build enough cushion.
Chuck Steele delivered a 2-run single and then
Fernando Lugo added a 2-run triple in the inning.
OUAZ committed three errors in the top of the seventh to allow the Zorros four runs to get the final margin down to two.
The Spirit knocked out 13 hits as a team with nine extra base hits, including a school-record three triples from Lugo,
Eddie Ortiz, and
Adrian Salazar.
Salazar had a team-high three hits in finishing a home run shy of the cycle. Steele and Lugo had two hits and three RBI apiece in the victory. Ortiz and
Connor Lowrie also had two hits each.
Zack McLeod gave up just three runs (two earned) with seven strikeouts in five innings.
Miguel Cirino (2-5) got the in after throwing the final 1.2 innings and allowing four runs (two earned) with three strikeouts.
GAME 2
Leading 1-0 after one, the Spirit crossed the plate six times in the second inning to blow the game open.
Lester Acoba had a 2-run triple and
Derek Hayenga added a second triple in the inning to spark the scoring outburst.
Hayden Durkiewicz and Hayenga added RBI doubles during a 3-run sixth inning to put the cap on the scoring.
In picking up another 13 hits the Spirit had another three doubles and two triples.
Four Spirit players ended the game with two hits, including
Zac Jones who picked up his first hit of the season with an RBI single in the second inning. He then added a run-scoring double in the third inning.
Chandler Reynard, Steele, and Hayenga also had two hits. Durkiewicz added three RBI.
Travis Hawkins (6-5) closed his season with a sixth win after holding the Zorros to two runs on four hits in five innings.
Zachary Humphrey gave up just one hit in 1.2 innings and
Xavier Luna got the season's final out.
SEASON LEADERS
Reynard ended the season as the Spirit's qualified leader with a .369 batting average. Durkiewicz led all players with a .413 batting average.
Ryan Mortensen hit a home run in game one to give him a team-high four home runs this season.
Steele ends the year leading the Spirit with 34 runs batted in and 23 stolen bases.
Hawkins led the team with six wins on the mound and led all qualifiers with a 4.04 ERA. He also led the team with 55 strikeouts.
Taylor Campos led the team with five saves.
Austin Shumaker had a remarkable season in the field by not committing an error in 248 chances while playing games at catcher, first base, and left field.
