The Benedictine Mesa baseball team secured a thrilling 10-8 victory over Nelson University on Tuesday evening in a back-and-forth battle.
The Redhawks jumped ahead early, scoring twice in the first inning. Jacob Bauler singled to right field, bringing in Carlos Parra, who scored on an error. Bauler later advanced to third on the play and came home on an RBI single by AJ Fernandez, giving Benedictine a 2-0 lead. They extended their advantage in the third, as Bauler delivered another RBI single to score Parra, followed by a Joe Cosenza double that plated Jude Sullivan. A wild pitch allowed Fernandez to score, pushing the lead to 5-0.
Nelson University responded in the fourth when Thomas drove in two runs on a single to center field. Their momentum continued in the sixth, as Frano doubled to left, bringing in two more runs to cut the deficit to 5-4. Nelson surged ahead in the seventh, capitalizing on a Benedictine error to tie the game before Frias-Moreno's two-RBI single put them in front 7-5.
The Redhawks wasted no time in answering back. In the bottom of the seventh, Cosenza's sacrifice fly brought in Parra, and Preston Vine-Close delivered the biggest hit of the game—a bases-clearing double that drove in Jack Moore, Fernandez, and Bauler to reclaim the lead at 9-7. Willie Tatum followed with an RBI double, extending the advantage to 10-7. Nelson attempted a late push in the eighth, scoring on a fielder's choice, but Benedictine held firm to secure the win.
Key Players:
Looking Ahead:
The Redhawks return to action on Friday, March 28, as they travel to Glendale to take on Arizona Christian.
