ROHNERT PARK, Calif- Sonoma State used ten pitchers and 28 players total on Sunday to defeat Grand Canyon 7-1 in the finale of a four game series that was won by the Seawolves three games to one.
Travis Babin had three hits to lead a 15-hit Sonoma State attack as the Seawolves improve to 35-5 on the season. The Antelopes fall to 9-29.
At 35-5, the Seawolves are tied for the best start after 40 games in school history. Last year's CCAA champion squad was also 35-5 after 40 on their way to a 50-12 record. Sonoma State is currently ranked No. 2 in the nation.
Being a non-conference game, Sonoma State's head coach
John Goelz decided to use a different pitcher in each inning on Sunday.
Max Smoot got the start and pitched a perfect first inning before giving way to
Devon Kreyenhagen for the second inning.
Derek Lewis pitched the third inning and earned the win as SSU would get the go-ahead runs in the bottom of the frame.
Other pitchers used in Sunday's game included
Paul Oules,
Josh Priest,
Rashad Tucker, Scott Wishcnack,
Morgan Rodriguez,
Troy Brown, and
Tyler Fockler. The unit did an outstanding job, holding the Antelopes to just four hits and one run.
SSU went up in the third on a solo home run by center fielder
Derek Harms. The lead grew to 2-0 with an RBI single off the bat of
Steve Warner in the fourth and was pushed to 4-0 on RBI doubles by Babin and
Mark Pestorich in the seventh.
After Grand Canyon scored their only run in the top of the eighth, the Seawolves blew things wide open with a solo homer by
Ryan Averkieff and a two-run double by Babin.
Babin finished the game 3-for-5 with three RBIs. Harms, Pestorich, Averkieff, and
Nick DiNapoli also had two hits each for the Seawolves.
Sonoma State is on the road next weekend for a big series with UC San Diego. The Tritons are currently in second place in the CCAA and ranked 12th in the nation.
Box Score Note: Due to roster size limitations with the scoring software, the Seawolves have two pitchers (Derek Lewis and Scott Wischnack) that are listed under "Others 1" in the box score. Lewis allowed one hit and hit one batter in the third inning. Wischnack surrendered one hit and struck out two in a scoreless seventh.
Box Score
