Tyler Richardson and Anthony Machado helped Royals to series win
#20 Royals Take Two out of Three from #7 Eagles
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A solid performance all around propelled the #20 Warner University baseball team to a double header sweep over The Sun Conference opponent and #7 Embry-Riddle University on Saturday afternoon. The Royals captured game one on Saturday in dramatic fashion 4-3 in extra innings and rode the hot arm of Anthony Machado to a 1-0 victory in game two taking the series two games to one.
The Royals now sit at 14-17 (5-4 The Sun Conference) and the Eagles fall to 21-11 (8-4 The Sun Conference).
In game one, the Royals jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning sending eight batters to the plate in the frame. Justin Zanella and Tyler Richardson got it going with back-to-back doubles to lead off the game. Ryan Paul scored Richardson with a two out single to give the Royals the 2-0 lead. Zanella and Richardson would team up again in the second inning; after a Zanella triple, Richardson extended the Royals’ lead to 3-0 with a sac-fly to center.
Royals’ starter Josh Castanza was impressive for the Royals facing only two batters over the minimum through the first five innings. The Eagles finally broke through with a run in the sixth inning making it a 3-1 ball game. In the bottom of the seventh, Castanza got two quick outs before surrendering a double and giving way to closer Jose Cabrera. The Eagles would touch up Cabrera for two consecutive hits tying the game at 3-3. With the bases loaded and two outs Cabrera got Branden Roper-Hubbert to strikeout looking sending the game into extras.
After a scoreless eighth inning for both squads, freshman Jose Henao led off the Royals’ half of the ninth with a double. Following a sacrifice bunt from Casey Torrance, Justin Zanella brought home pinch runner Phillip Keys on a single to right field as the Royals took the 4-3 lead, setting up a dramatic finish.
In the bottom half of the ninth, the Eagles had bases loaded with two outs when Cabrera struck out Austin Goolsby to end the threat and the game.
Justin Zanella finished a homerun short of the cycle going 3 for 5 with two runs scored and a RBI. Ryan Paul went 2 for 4 with two RBIs and Tyler Richardson finished 1 for 4 with two RBIs.
Jose Cabrera (1-0) gave up one run in two-and-two-thirds innings of relief to pick up the victory. Josh Castanza allowed two runs on four hits over six-and-two-thirds innings with five strikeouts.
Game two featured a pitcher’s duel between Royal Anthony Machado and Eagle Austin Quinn. After two scoreless innings to open the game, the Royals made the first move taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the third. Andy Paul led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Casey Torrance. Justin Zanella walked bringing up Tyler Richardson who delivered a two out single to right field scoring Paul who slid in just ahead of the tag by catcher Austin Goolsby.
Machado would need no further support scattering three hits over the next four innings never allowing an Eagle base runner past second base. Quinn was equally impressive going three-up and three-down the last four innings of the game. With two outs and a runner on base, Machado struck out Mike Jutkiewicz looking to the end the game 1-0 and giving the Royals the 2 to 1 series advantage.
Machado (3-5) tallied six strikeouts and held the Eagles to only three hits in seven innings of shutout baseball.
Andy Paul led all hitters going 2 for 2 with the only run scored. Tyler Richardson capped off a big weekend batting 1 for 3 with an RBI. For the series Richardson went 5-11 with two doubles and five RBIs. Justin Zanella had the Royals only other hit going 1 for 2 with a walk.
The Royals will take a step out of NAIA competition to take on NCAA-II Saint Leo University at home on Tuesday afternoon, March 23. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.