IRVINE, Calif. – The Concordia University Irvine baseball team split Saturday's doubleheader against #17 Azusa Pacific, including an epic comeback in the matinee game. CUI is now 10-10 on the season and remains second in the PacWest Southern Pod standings behind APU.
In Game 1, CUI put together the greatest comeback in school history (NCAA D2 era) by scoring 7 runs in the bottom of the ninth to walk off against #17 Azusa Pacific. After trailing 10-4 headed into the bottom of the ninth, the Eagles proved resilient with an unforgettable comeback.
Xavier Gonzalez led off the inning with a walk, followed by a
Haloa Dudoit single. Dudoit would finish the game 4 for 5 with a double and 2 runs scored. The next batter,
Matt Lautz, singled up the middle, scoring Gonzalez and cutting the lead to 10-5.
Jeff Pellegrino then walked, loading the bases for
Cooper Moore. The senior designated hitter, who went 2 for 5 in the game, hit a two run double down the left field line to score both Dudoit and Lautz and narrowing the deficit to 10-7.
The Eagles would repeat this sequence with a
Bailey Collins walk to load the bases and a
Nathan Benefeito two-run double to cut the lead to 10-9.
Tony Garcia III then tied the game with a single to left field, scoring Collins. With still no outs in the inning, redshirt sophomore
Will Bonn came up to the plate and sealed the victory with a base hit to right center field, scoring Benefeito and walking off on the Cougars.
"I saw a pitch up and did what I could. It was a lot of fun and a great team win. . . We were all bought in and were able to come back and get the victory." – Will Bonn
Evan Larsen started Game 1 for CUI on the mound, striking out 7 batters in 5.0 innings of work.
Andrew Pinedo earned his first collegiate win after striking out 6 batters in 3.2 innings out of the pen, improving to 1-0 on the season.
In Game 2, APU jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead in the second inning. In the bottom of the second, Benefeito hit a solo home run that wrapped around the left field foul pole, his third of the season. Then in the fourth inning, Benefeito showed off his defensive strength with a leaping catch at the wall for the final out of the inning. However, the damage had already been done as the Cougars led 12-1.
Trailing 16-2 in the fifth inning, the Eagles made a sizeable dent with a 6-run inning, headlined by a 3-run double off the bat of Benefeito and a 2-run single from Donovan. However, the Eagles were unable to strike again as the final score would come out to 17-8.
Six CUI pitchers took the mound in Game 2, none pitching more than 2.0 innings. Senior
Chase Lyford collected three of CUI's five strikeouts in the seventh inning.
The Eagles return to action on Friday against Biola to wrap up PacWest Southern Pod play, followed by two non-conference series against Academy of Art and a series against Fresno Pacific.
CLICK HERE for the full 2021 CUI baseball schedule.
#CUITogether
