EL DORADO, Kan. – The final game of the 2023 Southwestern College baseball season occurred on Sunday at McDonald Stadium in El Dorado. After the Builders fell behind 5-0 entering the bottom of the sixth, they produced nine of the final 10 runs scored in the game to snatch a 9-6 win and earn the series sweep over Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) foe Avila University to end the campaign.
Early on, the visiting Eagles seemed to have the upper hand, as a three-run top of the third inning was supplied to give them the 3-0 advantage on the board. Two RBI singles and a sacrifice fly accounted for the three tallies in the third.
Two more runs would score for Avila in the top of the fourth inning, when a sacrifice fly to right field resulted in two runs due to a collision by Andrew Brown into the right-field fence. With those two runs, it was a 5-0 ballgame with the Avila pitcher tossing an efficient gem from the slab.
That would not continue to be the case for much longer, as SC finally found their way onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth inning, chasing the Avila starter. An RBI double by Josh Crabtree got the inning going, as Marcus Burton came in to score. Then, Zach Boone delivered his second homer of the series. The blast was of the three-run variety, and it carried over the right-center field wall to match the spot of his solo bomb yesterday. Travis Popenhagen and Jo. Crabtree scored on the homer. Finally, after changing pitchers, Tyler Seboldt smacked a run-scoring double to left center to score Sesang Yun and tie the game 5-5.
Jumping back in front in the top of the seventh, the Eagles nabbed a run on an RBI single into right field. That would not stop the Moundbuilders from continuing their offensive surge, as London Penland scored on a passed ball in the bottom half, followed by a two-run double to right center by Yun, which gave SC their first lead of the afternoon at 8-6.
An insurance run would be grabbed by Southwestern in the eighth, as Joseph Finder ripped an RBI single through the right side to score Seboldt from second base.
With a 9-6 lead entering the ninth, Avila loaded the bases with one out but were thwarted on a 5-4-3 double-play grounder that ended the battle and sealed the series sweep for SC over Avila.
The Builders scored nine or more runs in each of the three games this series, and had 10 or more hits, as well. The biggest hit of the game came off the bat of Yun (3-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, R), who seared the eventual game-winning two-run double in the bottom of the seventh inning. Multi-hit efforts from Seboldt (2-for-5, 2 2B, RBI, R) and Finder (2-for-5, RBI) were supplemented by single hits to drive in runs from both Jo. Crabtree (1-for-3, 2B, RBI, 2 R, BB) and Boone (1-for-5, HR, 3 RBI, R). Brown, Penland and Trevor Abitia also had hits on the day.
Taylor Petty started the game on the hill for the Builders, going 2.2 innings deep with three runs allowed on three hits and a walk. He struck out a pair of hitters. Nathan Simmons followed him with 1.1 innings of work. He surrendered two runs on four hits and issued one free pass. Next up was Jared Stoffel, who pitched a full inning without giving up a run. He allowed one hit and walked one batter. Braden Ash continued the good work with 0.2 innings on the hill, while Joshua Johnson ended that frame by getting the final out. Dylan Navarrette was able to earn the victory for the squad, though he allowed the final Eagle run on two hits over a full inning pitched. Jacob Woodburn provided two-thirds of an inning and allowed no runs, while Reyden Rull worked the final 1.1 frames and gave up just two hits and a walk. He earned the save, as well.
The final tilt of 2023 is in the books for the Moundbuilders (11-38, 5-28 KCAC), who finished the year on a strong note, sweeping the final series of the campaign. Builder Nation will be looking forward to seeing the improvements that the baseball program can make prior to the start of the spring 2024 season.
--buildersports.com--
