Riverside, Calif. - The Golden Eagles baseball team improved to 4-3 on the season by taking three of four games against Bethesda University this past weekend.
On Friday, John Salinas notched the game-winning hit in a 5-4 walk-off victory in Game 1 of the series. Trailing 4-2, heading into the final innings of the game, the Golden Eagles tied the score at 4-4 with two runs in the sixth inning, setting things up for Salinas who drove in the winning run with his second hit of the game. Freddy Rivas also had two hits in the home opener, while designated hitter Matt Zurita finished 1-for-3, with an RBI. Pitcher Michael Zurita came in, in relief, to pick up the victory, giving up one run over 4-2/3 innings, while collecting three strikeouts.
La Sierra followed that up with a 10-7 win over the Flames in Game 2 of Friday's doubleheader. Matt Zurita and Cody Molla led the way for the Golden Eagles in Game 2, combining for six hits and six RBI's. Matt Zurita was 4-for-5 with three RBI's, including two singles, a double, and a triple. Molla was 2-for-3, with both hits being extra base hits (a double and a triple). As a team, the Golden Eagles finished with 10 runs on 13 hits. Trailing 7-5 the Golden Eagles secured the victory with a 5-run bottom of the seventh inning. Victor Mena pitched the final three innings, to pick up the win, allowing no hits while notching four strikeouts against only one walk.
The two teams faced off on Sunday afternoon for another doubleheader, with the Flames picking up a 13-5 win in Game 1. After the Flames jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, with a run in each of the first three innings, the Golden Eagles tied the score with two runs in the fourth inning and a run in the fifth. Bethesda quickly took back the lead with two runs in their half of the sixth inning, with La Sierra cutting the lead back to 5-4 with a run in the seventh. But a 6-run top of the eighth inning proved to be too much for the Golden Eagles to overcome.
But La Sierra was able to turn the page quickly to take Game 2 of the doubleheader in commanding fashion. The Golden Eagles scored 10 runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, turning a 3-1 deficit into an 11-3 lead and eventual victory. Michael Gonzalez was 2-for-3 with two RBI's. The Golden Eagles finished with four different players who notched two RBI's (Gonzalez, Brandon Turner, Matt Valenzuela, and Dakota Heredia). Salinas, Davron Maxey, and Adrian Gardea each added one RBI in Game 2. Michael Zurita picked up another win, coming out of the bullpen, giving up one hit in 2-2/3 innings, while collecting two strikeouts.
The Golden Eagles are back action on Friday, when they host Providence Christian College for a doubleheader, starting at 11am.
