SURPRISE, ARIZ. – The 25th-ranked baseball team celebrated its Seniors on Saturday, wrapping up its conference schedule against Menlo. The Spirit jumped out to a large lead in a GSAC win, then won the non-conference contest that ended the doubleheader with Menlo.
#25 OUAZ 16, Menlo 1
The Spirit jumped out to a big lead early, scoring five times in the first inning. OUAZ improved on that effort in the second inning, pushing across six runs to post an 11-0 advantage.
All of those runs in the first two innings came on just six hits as the Spirit took advantage of walks and errors. All four hits in the second inning were doubles, as Joey Winters, Nathan Tarver, Owen Prendergast, and Christian Powell each had two-base hits.
Prendergast continued his hot streak at the plate, collecting three hits and driving in three runs. Nathan Tarver drove in four runs himself, and did it all with two doubles.
Tarver, Powell, and Daniel Durazo all had two doubles apiece in the opening game of the day. The Spirit were also blazing the basepaths, as they finished with five stolen bases.
While the offense was pulling away from the Oaks, Zach Hangas turned in another excellent start. In five innings, Hangas allowed just four hits and struck out ten batters. Brayden Marcum came in for the final two innings, facing the minimum six batters and getting a pair of strikeouts.
#25 OUAZ 10, Menlo 7
While the Oaks scored first this time, the Spirit responded with another outstanding first inning offensively. OUAZ scored twice before an out was recorded, and the big hit came from a Sergio Alfaro two-RBI single.
The Spirit would score twice more in the second inning before going scoreless until the sixth. OUAZ would post four more runs in that sixth frame, as a wild pitch, a double, a hit by pitch, and a walk all added to the lead.
Winters had a pair of hits, and the Spirit finished with six total. Winters had a double as did Nick Frantantoni, who's two-base hit scored a run in the sixth inning.
OUAZ had another big baserunning effort, as they finished with five total stolen bases. It was a painful day at the plate, as they had six plate appearances end in hit-by-pitches.
The Spirit had five different pitchers in the finale, and Luke Tedrick earned his first win of the season after a solid three innings. Brock Arnold pitched the next two innings allowing just two hits, plus Creighton Silvain and Tyler Bare had scoreless appearances.
While conference play is over for OUAZ, they will continue its season with a three-game series against Park-Gilbert next week. The first game is scheduled for Thursday at Surprise Stadium.
