Baseball team sweeps weekend series

The University’s baseball team put together a three game sweep over Schreiner University this past weekend, defeating the Mountaineers 18-0, 3-2 and 8-3 at Irwin Field.

Friday

Jake Ashley pushed across the first runs of Friday night’s game in the bottom of the first with a three-run home run to right field. Nick Clifton and David Ring scored on the play.

The Patriots added two runs in the third. Aaron McCain led off the inning with a double and scored on a triple by Hayden Chick, who scored one a single by Clifton.

Four runs were posted in innings five and six.

Ashley drove in a run on a double to left in the fifth. T.J. Martin knocked in two runs in the fifth on a single to right-center.

Patriot starter Matt Schimpf earned the win with seven innings of work. Schimpf allowed only three hits, all in the first three innings, and struck out four.

Jack Barkley and E.H. Almand cleaned up the last two innings.

Saturday

The Patriots posted two quick runs in game one Saturday.

Ashley walked to start the inning and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Chick. Martin scored the second run of the inning on a single by Clifton.

Pitching dominated the next three innings. Patriots’ starter Chad Sherman struck out five batters in that span.

Schreiner starter Matt Valley allowed only one hit in the three innings.

The Patriots scored their final run of the seven innings game in the bottom of the fifth.

Sherman carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning.

He walked two batters in the inning and with two outs Oscar Ibieta singled to center to score both runners.

Sherman bounced back in the seventh and closed out the game. He finished with 12 strikeouts in the complete game.

Neither team scored until the third inning of game two.

Ashley again got things started, this time with a single.

He moved to third on a hit by Martin and scored on a wild pitch.

The Patriots added three more runs in the sixth inning.

McCain led off the inning with a walk and moved to second on a single by Juneau.

The two runners advanced a base on a passed ball, and a single by Chick scored McCain.

Juneau scored sacrifice fly by Clifton.

Chick crossed home after a throw to third found the outfield.

Four runs in the seventh extended the Patriots lead to eight.

The Mountaineers plated all three of their runs in the eighth.

The Patriots closed things out in the ninth to push their record to 6-0 on the season.

Kory Cleveland earned the win with seven innings of work. He allowed only one hit and struck out nine.

“I thought for the weekend pitching was a really big key,” Patriots head coach Paul Wyczawski said. “We didn’t strike out much, but we still have a little work to do at the plate.”

The Patriots continue their season this weekend with a three-game series at home against Howard Payne.

Game one is set for six Friday night, with the double header starting at one Saturday afternoon.