Myrtle Beach, SC – Garrett College is continuing its season-long offensive onslaught at the Ripken Experience complex.
The Lakers hammered Quinsigamond Community College, 15-2, and routed Minnesota North College-Itasca, 16-6, in a Monday baseball doubleheader. GC (10-2) collected 22 hits in 10 innings, including three more home runs.
"Unfortunately, none of those runs carry over," remarked GC head coach Eric Hallenbeck, who would have liked to have banked some of them for another day.
Garrett blew out to a 9-0 lead after 2½ innings against Quinsigamond, but the Lakers had to erase a 6-4 deficit against Itasca. They accomplished that goal with an 11-run explosion in the home third that put GC in control of the nightcap.
"I liked how we responded against Itasca after giving up five runs in the top of the third," said Hallenbeck, whose team is averaging 10.3 runs per game and has already hit 23 home runs.
Christian Harrington slammed a pair of two-run homers in the Quinsigamond win. Brandyn Gonzalez (two-run homer, two runs) and Tristan Kenzevich (two runs, two RBI) each went 2-for-2.
Kenzevich, Noah Broadwater (three RBI), Easton Rhoten (two runs), and JJ Parrau (RBI) all had doubles in the Quinsigamond contest. Lucas Bridger (1-0), Karson Reed, Connor Phillips, and Adonis Troncoso combined on a one-hitter for the Lakers.
Cooper Flaig capped Itasca's five-run third with a two-run single that gave Itasca a 6-4 lead in Garrett's second game of the day. The Lakers responded with their 11-run outburst in the home half of the inning, which included a go-ahead sacrifice fly from Wyatt Slocum and two-run singles by Jonathan Padgett and Harrington.
Mercer CCC 5, GC 2
Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Owen Friddell had a double among his two hits and drove in two runs Sunday as Mercer County Community College snapped the Lakers' six-game winning streak.
Jake Pope doubled twice and drove in a run for Mercer, while teammate Shaniel Maldonado gave up just one run on six hits in six innings to gain the pitching victory.
Brandyn Gonzalez homered for Garrett; Jonathan Padgett drove in the Lakers' other run.
GC 9, Sussex CCC 7
Myrtle Beach, S.C. – Brandyn Gonzalez (3-for-3, three RBI) and Angel Oquendo (two RBI) each hit home runs as part of a 12-hit attack last Saturday as the Lakers built a 9-1 lead and held on for their sixth consecutive win against Sussex County Community College.
Christian Harrington (2-for-3, run) and Noah Broadwater (two runs) also drove in two runs apiece for Garrett.
Brandon Metivier (2-0) gave up a run on six hits in five innings with four strikeouts and no walks to earn the win. Gregory Eddy pitched a scoreless seventh to grab his second save.
GC 7, Cecil 5
GC 11, Cecil 3
North East, MD –Noah Broadwater (3-for-4, two runs) and Christian Harrington (2-for-4, run) each drove in three runs last Thursday afternoon in Game 2 as Garrett College completed a doubleheader sweep.
The Lakers used a five-run fifth to erase a 3-2 deficit while winning the opener. Angel Oquendo and Wyatt Slocum blasted two-run homers and Harrington (2-for-4, three RBI, run) added a solo shot during the fifth-inning explosion.
"Oquendo came up with the big hit [to put the Lakers ahead to stay] and then we added insurance runs with the home runs by Harrington and Slocum," said GC head coach Eric Hallenbeck.
The Lakers (7-1 overall, 5-1 region) have hit 17 homers in eight games while scoring just over 10 runs per game.
GC has won five straight since dropping the second game of a doubleheader against CCBC-Catonsville. The Lakers are off to their best start in 21 years, but Hallenbeck emphasized it's still early in the season.
"It's not how you start – it's how you finish," said Hallenbeck.
Dale Boone spaced six hits over six innings with two strikeouts and three walks to earn the Game 1 victory. Gregory Eddy pitched a scoreless seventh to earn the save.
"Boone gave us a quality start," said Hallenbeck. "Cecil had a seventh-inning rally with two on and no outs, but we took advantage of a baserunning error and recorded an out. From there, Eddy was lights-out."
Easton Rhoten (two runs, two RBI), Angel Oquendo (RBI), and Tristan Kenzevich (RBI) each added two hits in the Game 2 route, which featured 16 Laker hits.
"Our hitters were relentless," said Hallenbeck. "They were tough outs all day."
Ethan Sebold (2-0) won the nightcap by permitting three runs on four hits with two strikeouts and two walks over 4 2/3 innings.
GC 8, WV Wesleyan 1
Buckhannon, WV – Tristan Kenzevich and Christian Harrington each hit two-run homers while Noah Broadwater (RBI) had two hits last Tuesday as the Lakers routed host West Virginia Wesleyan.
Easton Rhoten (RBI) had a double for GC.
Brandon Metivier blanked Wesleyan for four innings, yielding just two hits while striking out three to earn the pitching victory. West Virginia Wesleyan finished with just four hits.
