54°F
weather icon Partly Cloudy

Blowout lets Eagles carry Sunrise lead into break

On the list of goals for the Boulder City baseball team, the one accomplished Thursday was pretty far down the list.

But that didn’t stop Eagles coach Bobby Reese from enjoying the moment.

“We wanted to go into spring break in first place, or at least no games back,” Reese said. “We’re where we want to be.”

Boulder City scored in every inning except the first, and Steve Wagner pitched a four-hitter as the Eagles pounded Tech 14-1 in six innings at Burkholder Park to move into sole possession of first place in the Division I-A Sunrise League.

Seth Kermode went 4-for-4 with a double and three RBIs, and Nolan Desantis also drove in three runs for the Eagles (9-3, 5-0 Sunrise League), who scored in double figures for the seventh straight game.

Boulder City led 2-1 after three innings before breaking open the game with three runs each in the fourth and fifth. Kermode’s bloop double down the right-field line scored Zach Murphy to put the Eagles up 3-1, and Desantis followed with a two-run single up the middle for a 5-1 lead.

In the top of the fifth, Boulder City did all its damage with two outs. Wagner helped himself with a run-scoring single, and a throwing error on the play allowed Murphy to score from first. After Kermode singled to put runners on first and third, Desantis’ bloop double to center brought in Wagner to put the Eagles on top 8-1.

Kermode and pinch hitter Nick Giunta each had two-run singles as part of Boulder City’s six-run sixth inning, and Peyton Koopman added a run-scoring triple.

Michael Morelli, Preston Van Diest and Wagner finished with two hits apiece for the Eagles.

“We were patient at the plate, and we took advantage of our opportunities,” Reese said.

Wagner was outstanding against a Tech lineup that was aggressive early in the count. He threw a first-pitch strike to 20 of the 24 batters he faced and reached a three-ball count only twice.

Wagner struck out the side in the fourth and finished with eight strikeouts while needing only 68 pitches (53 strikes) to navigate the six innings.

“He was all around the plate,” Reese said. “He located his fastball really well, and the defense played well behind him. We made some defensive plays to keep us out of rallies.”

Tech (7-4, 4-1) scored in the third when Alexis Acosta drew a two-out walk and came home after Kermode misplayed Jayce Otis’ fly ball to center field into a double.

Contact reporter David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidSchoenLVRJ.

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST