WARRIORS SWEEP MICHIGAN-DEARBORN SERIES

ROYAL OAK, Mich. - The Warriors put on a strong showing on both sides of the mound in their two wins against the Michigan-Dearborn Wolverines on Wednesday afternoon, securing a 2-1 victory in the first gama and an 8-4 win in the second game. Catcher Aidan Alspaugh led the Warriors in RBI with three across the two games, while Jack LaRue put on the strongest single-game hitting performance for RCU, recording three base hits and two RBI in the second contest. Pitcher Matthew Redmond struck five batters with zero earned runs in the first game to help RCU secure a victory in a tight defensive battle, with reliever Drew Schultz picking up the win. 

It was anything but a slugfest in the first game, with both teams logging just a run each in regular innings. After the Warriors took three quick outs, the Wolverines took advantage of an error to score a run in the bottom of the first. However, the Warriors recovered from the miscue and began a strong defensive stretch. In the bottom of the second, that began with a double play set off by Trace Hudson, who zipped a ground ball to shortstop Cael Kuzinski, who then fired a ball over to LaRue for the out. 

In the third, the Warriors got on the board following a single by Hudson. A few at-bats later, Hudson took home thanks to a wild pitch by the Wolverines, tying the game. The Warriors continued to make defensive play after defensive play, taking out a runner at third who was caught leading too far. Despite the bats running relatively cold for RCU, the defense held up, quickly taking out Michigan-Dearborn batters. The defense showed resilience in the sixth and seventh innings, with RCU escaping the sixth with two UMD runners left on base. 

In the seventh, the RCU defense had its biggest test of the day, with the score still knotted up at 1-1. The Wolverines hit two singles in the bottom of the seventh, but the Warriors alleviated some of that pressure with a big connection between Alspaugh and Lucas Bateman, catching a runner stealing at third. However, the work wasn't done yet for the Warriors, with two walks creating a bases-loaded advantage for the Wolverines with two outs. However, the Warriors escaped thanks to a pop-up caught by Bateman, forced by Schultz on the mound. 

With the game going into extra innings, the Warriors made sure to capitalize on their defensive momentum, with Alspaugh getting his RBI on a sacrifice fly for Kuzinski. With the lead and a chance to win, Schultz stayed calm and collected, striking out two batters before the Warriors took the game on a lineout to right field, winning 2-1. 

In the second game, it was time for both teams to warm up the bats and get the offenses going, with 19 hits between the programs in seven innings. RCU threw the first punch with a LaRue double with two runners on, scoring Kuzinski after the shortstop hit a single. The second runner on base, Luke Jayarman, would be rewarded for his single with a sacrifice fly to left field by Alspaugh. The Wolverines took a run back in the bottom of the first after an RCU error. 

That run began a streak of four consecutive innings with a run by the Wolverines, who scored on another RCU error in the bottom of the second. For the second and third innings, RCU was held scoreless while the Wolverines took a 3-2 lead, taking that lead in the third on an RBI double. The Warriors responded in a big way in the fourth, with Jayaraman sending a double into left field with two runners on. LaRue hit another double to left field on the next at-bat, scoring Jayaraman. The Wolverines recovered a run in the bottom of the fourth following a double. 

The fifth and sixth innings were scoreless for both teams, with RCU making another big stop defensively when catcher Tony Grazioli caught a runner stealing second. The Warriors left no doubt in the seventh inning, scoring three runs. Dakota Shafer started with an RBI single, and the Warriors capped off the game with two runs on wild pitches, securing the win. 

UP NEXT

RCU faces the Madonna Crusaders on the road on April 17. 

Hussein Murray - RCU Athletic Communications

Featured Image: Hannah Mitkus - Hannah Mitkus Photography