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Cumberland University

Javier

Baseball

Baseball Drop Last Two Games In Florida Opening Weekend

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Lake Wales, Fla. - - Cumberland baseball took too long to get their bats warmed up, dropping their first game of the day 7-0 but making a late charge in vain, losing 8-7 to No. 10 Webber International.

Holyk continued his hot start this weekend, sending a line drive past the pitcher to give the Phoenix their first hit of the day, although it would not amount to any early momentum.

After quickly flipping innings, Ian Krump came up and gave the Phoenix another runner on base, but Cumberland was unable to take advantage of the early hit.

The bottom of the third saw the first run of the game scored, as the Royals reached first but an error allowed their runner to advance all the way from first to third. A sac fly did enough to push the runner home and see Warner ahead early.

Top of the fourth Dee Triplett took a hit by pitch and Tim Holyk hit a single to move the runner over, putting runners on first and second with no outs, but some great defense helped get the Royals out of trouble and keep the score at 1-0.

Though the Phoenix quickly got out of the fourth without conceding another runner, they were dispatched just as quickly in the top of the fifth, going three-up and three-down. The Royals however put runners on first and second with shallow singles, before an incredible bunt saw Cumberland have to battle their way through bases loaded with no outs.

A single through the infield scored two runs, extending the gap to 3-0, and a sac fly added one more. A pop fly gave Cumberland a chance to stop the bleeding and continue to search for their first runs of the game.

Seth Sweet-Chick hit a single to shallow center field to give the Phoenix their first hit in two innings, then Dee Triplee smashed a single down the left field line to advance Sweet-Chick from first to third, with just one out.

Luck was not on Cumberland's side though, as the Royals continued their hot pitching, forcing one strike out and a ground out to finish what the Phoenix started. 

Warner exploded in the bottom of the inning, scoring three runs on two hits, but CU did themselves little favors with two errors going against them. The Phoenix had to score seven runs in the following three innings, while also containing the bats of the Royals.

The seventh was uneventful for both sides, going three-up, three-down.

Leading off the eighth, Ian Krump reached first base from a walk, the first of the day from either side. Again getting themselves out of a small jam, the Royals struck out a Phoenix batter and followed it up with a double play ball, going 6-4-3.

After nine innings, the Phoenix were unable to get themselves a run on the board, ending their first day with a tough 7-0 loss.

Though he took the loss for game one, Wilhite did good work, allowing six hits and just two earned runs through five innings, as well as five strikeouts. In relief, Bracken Rice dealt with some of the same defensive errors behind him like Wilhite, pitching two innings and allowing just two hits and no earned runs.

The second game of the day started off much quicker than the previous, with Webber being the first team to get on the board. Leading off the first inning, three runners were able to reach base from a hit by pitch. Having a large hole to dig himself out of, he then went on to induce two ground balls and a strikeout, but allowed three runs.

Cumberland went into the bottom of the first with a deficit to chase already, though they would start on the basepaths with some help from the Warriors. Brandon Boxer, Tim Holyk, and Seth Sweet-Chick all were hit by a pitch in the inning, though the Phoenix couldn't find a way to capitalize on the mistakes.

Something was in the air for the first several innings, with Justin Boggs walking his first batter of the inning and then plunking the next two batters to load the bases. A Phoenix infield error allowed two runs to score, but some spectacular defense brought them out of the jam quickly.

A line-drive was sent to Dee Triplett who began a miraculous triple-play, catching the ball out of the air, tagging first base, and getting the put out at second.

Finally in the bottom of the third the Phoenix began to rally and it began just how the first did, with Brandon Boxer taking first base from a HBP. Javier Beal then battled for a walk, putting runners on both first and second with no outs. Holyk drove in a single that scored Boxer, before yet another HBP put Dee Triplett on first, loading the bases.

Maneuvering their way out of the situation, thye pitched around Sweet-Chick and forced a pop-fly, but Riley Light sent a ball deep into the outfield for a sacrifice fly, scoring Beal.

Smart base running gave the Phoenix more trouble, as the Warriors continued to put pressure on the base paths. With a runner on first and a single out, Webber executed a perfect hit and run to advance all the way from first to third and keep just that one out still. Soon after, WIU successfully attempted to steal second base and sent their runner home, sliding into a close call that would go their way, making it 6-2.

The bottom of the fourth and full fifth inning saw the offense finally slow down, while Quinlin Wiley came in and held Webber scoreless for nine batters in a row. In the top of the six the Warriors began to figure Wiley out, forcing a change from the Phoenix as the bases were loaded with just one out.

Logan Baskin came in and did his best to firefight, allowing just two runs to score from the three he was given, but the deficit grew even larger, now sitting at 8-2.

Playing small ball in the bottom of the inning, Cumberland was able to claw one run back with a bases loaded walk, leaving three base runners stranded in the process though.

One inning later Cumberland finally found the offensive outburst they were searching for as Alonzo Zuniga hit a leadoff single. Stepping up to the plate next, Joseph Rodriguez sent a double into the gap, giving the Phoenix two runners in scoring position with no outs. Boxer grounded out but was able to advance both runners, making the game 8-4.

Rodriguez scored on a wild pitch and Sweet-Chick was able to score two runners on a single, though it came too little too late as the Phoenix had to take their fourth loss of the weekend in a tight 8-7 game.

Credit has to be given to Logan Baskin who came in and faced 18 batters and gave up no runs of his own, while also pitching the most out of the Phoenix bullpen.

Cumberland will be back in action next weekend against No. 14 ranked Indiana Wesleyan. Game one is scheduled for 11:00 AM on Friday, February 9th.
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Players Mentioned

Logan Baskin

#45 Logan Baskin

LHP
6' 3"
Junior
L-L
Justin Boggs

#44 Justin Boggs

RHP
6' 8"
Junior
R-R
Brandon Boxer

#10 Brandon Boxer

C/UT
5' 11"
Senior
R-R
Tim Holyk

#7 Tim Holyk

IF
6' 0"
Senior
R-R
Ian Krump

#11 Ian Krump

OF
5' 10"
Senior
R-R
Dee Triplett

#8 Dee Triplett

IF
6' 1"
Senior
L-R
Javier Beal

#15 Javier Beal

UT
6' 0"
Junior
L-R
Riley Light

#34 Riley Light

OF
6' 1"
Junior
R-R
Bracken Rice

#17 Bracken Rice

RHP
6' 0"
Junior
R-R
Quinlan Wiley

#40 Quinlan Wiley

RHP
6' 3"
Junior
R-R

Players Mentioned

Logan Baskin

#45 Logan Baskin

6' 3"
Junior
L-L
LHP
Justin Boggs

#44 Justin Boggs

6' 8"
Junior
R-R
RHP
Brandon Boxer

#10 Brandon Boxer

5' 11"
Senior
R-R
C/UT
Tim Holyk

#7 Tim Holyk

6' 0"
Senior
R-R
IF
Ian Krump

#11 Ian Krump

5' 10"
Senior
R-R
OF
Dee Triplett

#8 Dee Triplett

6' 1"
Senior
L-R
IF
Javier Beal

#15 Javier Beal

6' 0"
Junior
L-R
UT
Riley Light

#34 Riley Light

6' 1"
Junior
R-R
OF
Bracken Rice

#17 Bracken Rice

6' 0"
Junior
R-R
RHP
Quinlan Wiley

#40 Quinlan Wiley

6' 3"
Junior
R-R
RHP