Baseball Swipes First Two Games Against Aquinas

LIMA, OH - UNOH rode a strong offensive performance Saturday afternoon to earn two wins on the first day of a four-game series against Aquinas. The Racers had to overcome some defensive blunders while holding off a furious comeback attempt to pick up a 15-9 win in the first game of the day. Zach Cabell was in command of game two keeping the Saints in check as the offense produced ten more runs to finish off the day one sweep, 10-0.

The runs began with two outs in the UNOH second stringing together three singles capped by a Cesar Grau triple that resulted in a four-run frame. The team hit for the cycle in the third highlighted by a Brennan Green lead off triple and a Zach Grigalis two-run bomb that added five more to the lead.

The Saints entered the fourth without a hit but finally came alive using six hits to shave four runs off the lead. They were also aided by a costly mistake on a fly ball with two outs that resulted in four more runs scoring unearned and trimming the deficit back to just one.

Eliomar Otero came up big for UNOH in the bottom half of the frame gapping a three-run triple to right center field with two outs giving the team their third three-bagger in the game for just the fifth time in program history. Aquinas plated their fifth unearned run in the sixth but UNOH finished strong with three more in the sixth that included their sixth extra base hit to seal the win.

Daniel Healy (5-1) entered the day with just eight total base runners and only five hits allowed over his last 14 innings but was pushed to limit in his fifth win of the season. He finished the day with four earned runs, nine total, on ten hits while striking out six and walking two over six innings of work. Jordan Davis tossed the final inning with strikeouts on two of four batters faced.

Game two started strong again for the Racers with the first three Saints going down in order before lighting the board with a five-spot in their first trip to the plate. Eliomar Otero led off the frame with solo home run down the right field line and was followed by three singles and a double to put UNOH in control early. That score held until the fourth when Otero ripped his second long ball of the game and got the offense moving again. Zach Grigalis and Brennan Green both doubled in the same inning adding a second score for a comfortable 7-0 lead after four. Jake Watson joined the home run club with his first the season on the first pitch her saw in the fifth. 

Trailing 8-0 and threatened by an early run-rule scenario, Aquinas worked two outs into the seventh trying to keep the game alive. Grigalis used a dribbler to force a bad throw by the catcher that brought Otero all the way around from second and put UNOH just one run away from finishing off the day. A couple wild pitches and a walk followed putting runners on the corners with the winning run just 90 feet away. The Saints felt the pressure and made a quick pitching change to try to work out of the jam, but before the first pitch could even be thrown the Racers went hot on a double steal that caught the defense off guard and scored the walk off run.

Zach Cabell (3-2) earned his second complete game shutout of the season allowing just five total base runners over seven innings on the bump. He scattered four hits while striking out three and walking one.

Eliomar Otero and Zach Grigalis both had a monster day combining to go 10-16 over the two games with eleven RBI and seven runs scored. The duo logged six extra base hits that included two doubles, a triple and three home runs between them. Cesar Grau and Brennan Green joined with three more doubles and two triples as the team logged 15 total extra base hits over the two games, the most in a single day this season.

UNOH has been lighting up opposing pitchers over their first ten conference games with a team batting average of .425 and just six total strikeouts during that stretch. The team has been fueled offensively by an incredible start to the year by Zach Grigalis who moved into second place in the country with a .533 batting average after the Saturday sweep. His significant role has helped the Racers to a .336 team batting average this season which sits twelfth best in the NAIA. Grigalis also currently boasts the nation's fourth best on base percentage (.598) and fifth best slugging percentage. (.907).

UNOH and Aquinas will square off two more times Sunday, March 29, with game three slated to begin at 12:00 PM at Racer Field.