Edward Waters came into Friday’s SIAC opener against LeMoyne-Owen riding a three-game winning streak. The Tigers took that momentum and turned it into a five-game winning streak, taking both games of a doubleheader, 3-2 in Game One and a dominant 24-1 victory in Game Two at Henry L. Aaron Field at James P. Small Memorial Baseball Park.
GAME ONE: Edward Waters 3, LeMoyne-Owen 2:
Game One Was a nailbiter to say the least between the two squads. LeMoyne-Owen cracked the scoreboard first in the top of the first inning with an RBI single. Edward Waters responded with a run of their own off of an Anthony Roman RBI sacrifice to knot things up at 1-1.
Both squads went scoreless over the next 4.5 innings, when in the bottom half of the sixth inning, Edward Waters took their first lead of the game with an RBI fielder’s choice from Daquarius Thompkins that scored Daiton Pass, making it a 2-1 ballgame.
LOC would not go quietly as the Magicians tied things up in the top of the eighth inning on an inside-the-park homerun. The Purple & Orange would again rise to the occasion in the bottom half of the eighth on a sacrifice fly from Payton Shubert that scored Chase Morris, which would end up being the go-ahead run at 3-2. Closer Darius Blasingane came in and shut the door in the top of the ninth inning to give the Tigers the one run victory.
The Tigers were led by Payton Shubert, who went 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI, as well as Daiton Pass who also went 1-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored. Will Valenti, who came into Friday’s start as the reigning SIAC Pitcher of the Week, made a case for another weekly honor with his outing in Game One. Valenti went 8.0 innings, allowed five hits, two earned runs, and for his second consecutive outing, struck out 10 batters. Darius Blasingane earned his first save of the season for EWU as well.
GAME TWO: Edward Waters 24, LeMoyne-Owen 1:
The Tigers left little doubt in Game Two with their most dominant performance of the early season. Edward Waters got things going early in the bottom of the first, plating four runs. LOC cut into the lead in top of the third with one run, but Edward Waters broke the contest open in the bottom half of the inning with seven runs scored.
EWU added five more in the bottom of the fourth with three of those runs coming courtesy of Leonel Diaz’s towering three-run homer over the right field wall. A passed ball in the bottom of the fifth added another EWU run, then later in the bottom of the sixth, the Tigers posted another seven spot to bring a halt to the festivities.
The Tigers 24 runs set a new modern-era program record for runs in a contest, besting a 23-0 road victory over Clark-Atlanta on March 16, 2011 in Atlanta. Four Tigers had multi-hit contests, led by freshman Chase Morris who went 3-for-4 with an RBI and four runs scored. Leonel Diaz finished 3-for-5 with a home run, a game high six RBIs, and four runs scored, while Hugo Schoening finished 2-for-3 and Daquarius Thompkins turned in a 2-for-4 afternoon.
On the mound, freshman Carson Hurst earned his first career victory, going 5.0 innings, allowing four hits, one earned run, one walk, and struck out four.
Edward Waters will conclude their series with LeMoyne-Owen by taking part in the 2023 HBCU Heritage Classic, hosted by the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. First pitch will take place at 2:00pm at 121 Financial Ballpark. Saturday’s matchup will also be a special one for the players, coaches, and fans as well as prior to first pitch, the Tigers will receive their 2022 HBCU Baseball National Championship Rings,