Frederick, MD – After a five-game homestand, the Regent University Baseball team began their spring break with a trip to the Old-Line State for a Tuesday doubleheader with Hood College. This was the first of five games this week, and the Royals were looking to carry over their offensive dominance from this past weekend. Freshman James Blotter (Newport News, VA) would get the start in Game One, while Sophomore Austin Shackelford (Gloucester, VA) got the nod in Game Two.
Game One
Regent struck first in the second inning when Freshman Caleb Wood (Glen Allen, VA) delivered an RBI single to put the first run on the board. In the third, Freshman Jordan Hunt (Virginia Beach, VA) drew a walk and then eventually stole second, but the Royals could not get him home, as the score remained 1-0. Regent was able to increase the advantage to two runs when Wood drove in Junior Ethan Loucks (Montpelier, VA) with a sacrifice fly to centerfield. The Blazers would get one back, but Wood answered with an RBI single to left field, allowing Freshman Colton Sandiford (Seaford, VA) to score and then Junior Jayden Alvarez (Newport News, VA) doubled in two more runs and suddenly Regent was out in front 5-1. The Royals weren't finished in the inning as Hunt drove in Alvarez on an RBI single to left field and then Hunt would cross the plate on a sacrifice fly from Freshman Dylan Oblepias (Katy, TX). The bats stayed hot in the seventh inning as Freshman Keegan Hager (North Chesterfield, VA) stepped to the plate and drove in Sandiford with a single to left field, which was followed by a run by Loucks who scored as Wood stole second. Sophomore Maddox German (Fairfax, VA) extended the lead to 10 runs with a triple to right field and then Blotter closed things out as he tossed the program's first ever no hitter as Regent went on to win by a final score of 11-1.
In addition to Blotter's performance on the mound, German led the team going 4-5 with 2 RBI's and a Triple, while Wood finished 2-4 with 3 RBI's and 2 stolen bases.
Game Two
Hunt put up the first run of the game as he stole second base and then scored on a wild pitch to give the Royals an early lead 1-0. However, Hood would answer in their half of the first to tie the game. That did not last long as Sandiford got aboard, and then Loucks drove him in on a sacrifice fly to left field and at the end of the second inning, Regent led 2-1. The Blazers were able to even things again and the game would go into extra innings. The Royals struck first scoring three runs in the top of the eighth inning with Freshman Nathan Vaughan (Mechanicsville, VA) driving in two, while Hunt drove in one. The Blazers were able to add two fo their own, but Freshman Hayden Radican (Fort Eustis, VA) closed out the game on the mound for the save, helping Regent win by a final score of 5-4.
Junior Wyatt Helsel (Poquoson, VA) earned the win, while Vaughan finished 2-5 with 2 RBI's. In addition, Hunt, Sandiford and Loucks each stole a base.
The Royals will be back in action on Thursday, March 12th when they travel to Harrisonburg for a doubleheader with Eastern Mennonite University. First pitches are at 12:00pm and 3:00pm.
