Westminster's Hughes Grabs Two More Records
Westminster senior Deion Hughes makes two pitching marks in the record books with Saturday's doubleheader sweep over MacMurray College. Hughes broke the season wins and complete games records during the game one 5-4 win. The Westminster baseball team went on to win game two, 9-2. The wins bring the Blue Jays to 20-10 on the season with an 11-4 conference record.
Game One
Sophomore Adam Mundle led off the game with a single to center field. The MacMurray pitcher walked the next two batters, loading the bases for junior Connor Hager. Hager hit a grand slam to left field, giving the Blue Jays a 4-0 lead just four at-bats in. Four batters later, sophomore Blake Strebler hit a RBI single to center field, scoring sophomore Nick Bohlmann.
MacMurray scored three runs in the bottom of the first, but the Blue Jays maintained a 5-3 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth, MacMurray scored an unearned run to bring the score to 5-4, but the Blue Jays held MacMurray from scoring in the remaining three innings to win the game.
The Blue Jays finished the seven inning game with seven hits. Hager went 2-for-4 from the plate with four RBI.
Hughes (9-1) grabbed the complete game win on the mound, breaking the wins and complete game season record. He struck out four while on the mound.
Game Two
Game two remained scoreless for both teams through the sixth inning. In the top of the seventh, junior Tanner Branneky hit a two-run shot over right field. In the top of the eighth, Mundle scored on a wild pitch to take a 3-0 lead heading into the final inning.
In the top of the ninth, the Blue Jays put up six more runs to take a 9-0 lead heading into the bottom of the inning. Bohlmann and Hughes scored runs on wild pitches, Ta. Branneky and Strebler scored on Mundles' at-bat, junior Nolan Bax scored on Hughes' RBI single, and Mundle scored on a MacMurray error.
In the bottom of the ninth, MacMurray scored two runs with a sacrifice fly and a balk, but the Blue Jay defense grabbed the final two outs needed to win the game, 9-2.
The Blue Jay offense out hit MacMurray 9-7. Junior Nick Cessna and Ta. Branneky each recorded two hits.
Senior Collin Brinker (6-2) grabbed the win on the mound after pitching seven innings and six strikeouts.
The Blue Jays host Blackburn College for a doubleheader starting at 4:00 pm on Wednesday, April 27.
STORY COURTESY OF WESTMINSTER COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION OFFICE
