Edward Waters College, Jarvis Christian College, and Talladega College each picked up wins on opening day of their 2020 baseball seasons.
The Jarvis Christian baseball team picked up its first win By defeating Sterling College. The Bulldogs (1-0) earned a 9-3 victory Friday in Hawkins, Texas.
Jarvis jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the second inning then cruised to the win. In the game, Kaine Smith had a hit with two runs batted in, Kris Nguyen went 3 for 4 at the plate, Joshua Romero knocked in three runs. Armond Barrios also was 3 for 4 at the plate and both Jalen Thomas and Jan Reyes each had one hit and a run batted in.
Jarvis Christian starting pitcher Phillip Griego was masterful, pitching five innings giving up four hits, one run, one earned run, striking out four batters. In relief, Ryan New went 2.0 innings and yielded two earned runs on two home runs off the batters of Gregory Creamer and Gerald Powell. Romeo Romero, in 2.0 innings allowed no runs or hits to seal the win.
Edward Waters (1-0) baseball, playing in it’s newly renovated home field at J.P. Small Memorial Baseball Park in Jacksonville, FL which houses a Negro League Museum, defeated Bluefield College (0-1) by the score of 5-3 in its 2020 season opener.
Bluefield got on the scoreboard first in the top of the first inning. Ozzie Millet’s home run made the score 1-0 in favor of the Rams. But the Tigers would respond in the bottom of the first, to tie the game at 1-1. Keilin Washington drew a walk then scored on a double off of the bat of Cayden Frankie. Bluefield would reclaim the lead, plating a run in the top of the third inning, but EWC answered with another run scoring double from designated hitter Joseph Eischen to tie the game at 2-2. Edward Waters added two more runs in the fifth inning for a 4-2 lead, then got an insurance run for the 5-3 home opener win.
EWC starter Julio Flores in 4.0 innings on the hill, allowed three hits, two earned runs and five strikeouts. But in relief, Marco Trejo and Cody Melton shut down Bluefield from mounting a comeback.
Talladega (1-1) split its season opening doubleheader defeating University of Rio Grande who is receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25 Coaches poll by the score of 12-3 at Dayton, TN. Then lost a thrilling pitchers’ dual to NAIA No. 18 Bryan College by the score of 2-1.