University’s trip to the Viking Classic finished up on Saturday with the Trailblazers winning two games.
In its first game, University held off a comeback to beat Indiana’s third-ranked team in Class 2A, Alexandria 7-6. The Tigers led 2-1 after the first inning, but the ‘Blazers scored four runs in the top of the second. Nate Shatkowski scored on a double by Ben Ewer, then Ryan Williams smacked a three-run home run, also getting Ewer and Dawson Estep (who walked) home.
University got on the board in the first inning when Garrett Hill scored on a passed ball. The Trailblazers also scored in the third inning (Cade Carlson scored on an Asher Thompson fielder’s choice) and the fourth inning (Williams scored on an error). Alexandria scored twice in the fourth to cut University’s lead to one, but Hill threw three strikeouts in the fifth inning to end the game. (All of the games were five innings.)
Williams finished the game with three RBIs, while Hill’s 2-for-3 night included a triple. Carlson got the win, with seven strikeouts.
The ‘Blazers beat Grundy County 9-7 in their second game. Grundy started the game with seven runs in the top of the first inning, but did not score again.
University started its comeback with four runs in the first inning. Hill singled home Estep, Williams scored after Ewer drew a walk, Koke Hirano batted in Hill on a fielder’s choice, and Jacob Lange’s single sent Brock Moore home.
Moore sent Estep home on a second-inning single, then the ‘Blazers took the lead for good by scoring four runs in the third. Thompson batted in Oxley, Hill’s single got Thompson home, and Moore batted in Estep and Williams.
Estep was perfect at the plate, batting 3-for-3 (including two doubles) and scoring three runs. Moore totaled three RBIs. Oxley went two and two-thirds innings for the win, while starting pitcher Hill threw three strikeouts.
In an early Friday game, University lost to Fayetteville 6-2. The Trailblazers scored one run each in the first and second innings. Hill had the game’s lone hit.
University is 3-1 and is off until April 9, when it travels to Speedway.
Fayetteville 6, University 2
University AB R H RBI
Dawson Estep 3 1 0 0
Ryan Williams 2 0 0 0
Garrett Hill 2 0 1 0
Brock Moore 2 0 0 0
Cade Carlson 2 0 0 1
Kolton Stevens 2 0 0 0
Nate Shatkowski 2 0 0 0
Asher Thompson 1 1 0 0
Matt Moore 2 0 0 0
Totals 18 2 1 1
Score by innings
University 110 00 – 2 1 3
Fayetteville 101 4x – 6 7 4
SB: Estep, Thompson. HBP: Carlson.
University pitching IP R ER H
Will Spence 3.2 6 4 6
Adam Oxley 0.1 0 0 1
Strikeouts: Spence 1. Walks: Spence 3.
University 7, Alexandria 6
University AB R H RBI
Dawson Estep 1 1 0 0
Ryan Williams 2 2 1 3
Garrett Hill 3 1 2 0
Brock Moore 3 0 1 0
Cade Carlson 3 1 1 0
Kolton Stevens 2 0 0 0
Nate Shatkowski 1 1 0 0
Asher Thompson 3 0 0 1
Ben Ewer 3 1 1 1
Totals 21 7 6 5
Score by innings
University 141 10 – 7 6 1
Alexandria 211 20 – 6 7 1
HR: Williams. 3B: Hill. 2B: Ewer, Hill, Moore. SB: Estep, Shatkowski. SAC: Shatkowski. HBP: Stevens.
University pitching IP R ER H
Carlson (W) 4 5 3 6
Hill (S) 1 0 0 0
Strikeouts: Carlson 7, Hill 3. Walks: Carlson 3, Hill 1.
University 9, Grundy County 7
University AB R H RBI
Dawson Estep 3 3 3 0
Ryan Williams 3 2 0 0
Garrett Hill 3 1 2 2
Brock Moore 2 1 2 3
Cade Carlson 3 0 0 0
Ben Ewer 1 0 0 1
Adam Oxley 0 1 0 0
Koke Hirano 3 0 1 1
Jacob Lange 3 0 1 1
Asher Thompson 2 1 1 1
Totals 23 9 10 9
Score by innings
Grundy County 700 00 – 7 2 0
University 414 0x – 9 10 2
2B: Estep 2.
University pitching IP R ER H
Moore 1.1 7 2 2
Oxley (W) 2.2 0 0 0
Hill (S) 1.0 0 0 0
Strikeouts: Moore 3, Oxley 2, Hill 2. Walks: Moore 6, Oxley 1, Hill 1.