SCU Athletics
Matt Stephens, Sports Information Director
OKLAHOMA CITY – Top-seeded Southwestern Christian University opened the 2019 NCCAA Central Region Baseball Tournament with a 20-0 victory over Arlington Baptist (Texas) Monday at Eagle Field at Dolese Park.
The No. 1-ranked Eagles (40-15) outhit the Patriots 17-3 on the afternoon and advanced to the winners’ bracket where they will face second-seeded College of the Ozarks (Mo.) at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Eagle Field.
Starting pitcher Gage Staiger allowed just three hits with seven strikeouts in five scoreless innings and picked up the win.
A Two-RBI double from Diogen Ceballos put SCU in front 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning.
The Eagles struck for six runs in the bottom of the second and stretched their lead to 8-0. Back-to-back, bases-loaded walks from Mitchell Bryant and Manny Lopez started the scoring.
Leo Gallegos followed with a two-RBI single to right field. A two-RBI double from Clay Atwood capped the inning at 8-0.
Eight more SCU runs in the bottom of the third inning made the score 16-0. Luke Jones hit a ground ball to the left side and drove in a run.
A three-RBI double from Lopez followed by an RBI double from Ceballos expanded the SCU advantage to 13-0. RBI singles from Gallegos, Kelvin Fabian and Bo Hoeffkencapped the inning at 16-0.
Atwood lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to make the score 17-0 in the bottom of the fourth. Parker Henderson doubled and plated a pair of runs, and Cade Carter drove in SCU 20th run with a sacrifice fly to center field later in the inning.
For more information on the NCCAA Central Region Baseball Tournament, visit the Tournament Page.
NCCAA Central Region Baseball Tournament
Monday, May 13
Eagle Field/Palmer Field
GM 1: Arlington Baptist 7, Randall 6
GM 2: Dallas Christian 4, Ecclesia 3
GM 3: Southwestern Christian 20, Arlington Baptist 0
GM 4: College of the Ozarks 22, Dallas Christian 5
Tuesday, May 14
Eagle Field/Palmer Field
GM 5: Randall vs. Dallas Christian, 9 a.m. (Eagle Field)
GM 6: Ecclesia vs. Arlington Baptist, Noon (Eagle Field)
GM 7: Southwestern Christian vs. College of the Ozarks, 3 p.m. (Eagle Field)
GM 8: GM 5 Winner vs. GM 6 Winner, 3 p.m. (Palmer Field)
Wednesday, May 15
Eagle Field
GM 9: GM 7 Loser vs. GM 8 Winner, 10 p.m.
GM 10: GM 7 Winner vs. GM 9 Winner, 1 p.m.
Thursday, May 16
Eagle Field
GM 11: GM 10 Loser vs. GM 10 Winner (If Necessary), 10 a.m