Blackburn Begins Spring Break With Sweep

CLERMONT, FL -- The Blackburn College Baseball team opened up their spring break trip with a sweep over North Central University, winning the first game 8-6 and the second game 4-1. 

The Beavers were led offensively by freshman Landon Harbach with three runs batted in with a team lead in hits. Senior Royce Congi had four walks and scored two runs while freshman Joey Congi had three walks and scored three runs. 

Freshman Austin Wood threw five strikeouts and freshman Rudy Hinijosa threw four. 

In the opener, Blackburn struck first with two runs in the top of the first. J. Congi walked then sophomore Jordan Kelly was hit by a pitch. Harbach followed with a single to score J. Congi before Kelly scored on a fielder's choice hit by sophomore Diego Perez. 

The Rams answered with two runs in the third but BC responded with six runs in the fourth. Junior Dominic Medrano, senior Harley Carney, and R. Congi got on base to load the bases. Walks by J. Congi and Kelly allowed Medrano and Carney to score. After a pitching change, Harbach singled to score R. Congi, and Kelly scored on a wild pitch. Harbach scored the final run of the inning off a double from Medrano and put the Beavers up 8-2. 

NCU responded with four runs in their sixth inning but the Blackburn defense stopped their run to capture the 8-6 victory. 

Blackburn scored first in the second game as well when freshman Jeremy Mazariegos hit his first career home run. North Central tied it at 1-1 in the third, but BC answered when J. Congi opened the fourth inning with his second homer of the season. 

In the fifth inning, sophomore Andrew Medina singled which scored R. Congi and Carney to push out to a 4-1 lead. The Beavers kept the Rams scoreless the rest of the game to capture the 4-1 victory. 

With the sweep, Blackburn moves to 6-4 on the season and returns to action Wednesday to take on Martin Luther College in another spring break matchup.