Eagles Slip to Simpson in Season Opener, 6-5

Box Score 

(1/30/08 - Baseball) IRVINE - A two-run double down the first base line by Maurice Butler with one out in the top of the 9th inning gave visiting Simpson a 6-5 win over Concordia, Wednesday afternoon in the season opener for the Eagles.

A see-saw battle looked to set go the way of the home side as all-American Matt Ross broke a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the 7th inning with a solo home run to right-center.

Concordia had taken a 4-3 lead in the 6th as Beau Poteet raced around from second to score the second of a pair of runs on a fielder’s choice grounder by Michael Gonzalez. However, Patrick Roman tripled to lead off the visiting half of the 7th inning and scored on a one-out groundout by Butler.

Following a scoreless 8th inning, Josh Harvey walked to lead off the final frame. He stole second, then Roman was hit by Jason Scheumann (0-1) to put the go-ahead runner on base. Shane Battles moved both runners up a base with a sacrifice bunt, setting the table for Butler to sneak his grounder just inside the glove of 1B Nick Fuentes.

Gonzalez got the Eagles on the board first with a RBI single up the middle in the 2nd inning before a pair of outfield miscues allowed the Red Hawks to tally a pair of runs off starter Derek Thomas. The Red Hawks extended their lead by a run thanks to a RBI-double by Danny Collins in the fourth, but the Eagles took the run right back as Nathan Dean led off the bottom half with a double and scored on a single by Scooter Hendrickson.

While it looked like the Eagles might be able to build a big inning after the Hendrickson single, Simpson starter Ed Davila settled in and retired the next three batters. Though he did not get the decision, Davila gave the Red Hawks six solid innings, allowing four runs on seven hits.
Jacob Sanchez (1-0) picked up the win in relief for the Red Hawks. Following the home run to Ross in the 7th, Sanchez retired the final eight Concordia hitters in order to nail down the win.

Thomas gave up three runs (two earned) on four hits in 3.1 innings of work in his Concordia debut. Jeff Allen took over from there and gave the Eagles an effective 2.2 innings of relief, giving up just one hit and two walks while striking out one.

Dean finished the game 2-for-4 for the Eagles with a pair of doubles and two runs scored while Gonzalez was 1-for-4 with 3 RBI. Gonzalez also got the final two outs of the game on the mound for the Eagles. Collins was the only Simpson (1-1) player with two hits, but he and Butler combined to drive in five runs.

Concordia (0-1) will look for its first win of the season on Thursday, January 31 as it hosts Cal State San Marcos with first pitch set for 2:00 p.m.