LAKE WALES, Fla. - The Royals returned home to Sikes Family Field for their first game back in Lake Wales since February 8th to take on fellow NCCAA member Bethel University (IN). Tuesday nights's game marked the start of a 9 game homestand for Warner and the team made sure to get started on the right foot, beating the Pilots 8-to-4.
The Pilots came out of the gates firing, recording the first run of the game in the 1st Inning to take a 1-0 lead into the Bottom of the 1st. Warner responded right away in the bottom of the Inning loading the bases and getting the first run home when
Adriel Torres-Gonzalez was hit by a pitch to
Jhenzel Figueroa home. The Royals kept the line moving and would drive in 2 more runs off a
Paddy Smith double to left field to bring home
Gabriel Rodriguez and
JD Swarbrick to take a 3-1 lead. Bethel answered back with a run in the 3rd, but Warner got right back on the board in the bottom of the 3rd as Torres-Gonzalez drove in Rodriguez on an RBI double.
Warner would tack on another run on in the 4th on a sacrifice fly by
Horiam Santiago to get
Carlito Collins home. The Royals followed that up by manufacturing 2 more runs in the 6th Inning off a
Samuel Blanco sacrifice fly to get
Jacob Gumieny in and a bases loaded walk drawn by
JD Swarbrick that got Santiago in for the 7th run of the game. Warner was able to get one more insurance run in the 8th on an infield single off the bat of
Luis Vicente that drove in
Evan Ledoux to give the Royals a 8-2 lead. Bethel was able to get 2 runs in the 9th, but Warner's lead was too much for the Pilots to overcome as the Royals would win 8-to-4.
Gage Allen earned his 1st win of the season in what was the Junior's 1st start of the season. Allen pitched 5.0 Innings and allowed only 2 runs, 1 earned, on 3 hits, while recording a season high 5 strikeouts against the Pilots.
Drew Owen and
Manato Tateno also had strong outings in relief as Owen pitched 2.0 Innings and allowed only 1 hit and prevented Bethel from scoring. Tateno threw 1.0 Inning out of the bullpen, striking out 2 and did not allow a hit.
Warner will look to build on this win when they take on Mission University this weekend in a 4 game series.
Warner Stat Leaders
Offensively the Royals found success across the lineup as 7 different Royals recorded a hit, 6 Royals recorded at least 1 RBI, and 4 different Royals stole a base. On the mound, Allen lead the Royals with 5 strikeouts.
Up Next:
The Royals will
host Mission University for a 4 game series this weekend.
Friday, February 27th's game times are scheduled for
3:00 pm and 6:00pm, and
Saturday the 28th's game times are scheduled for
11:00am and 2:00pm.
#GodBlessGoRoyals | #TogetherAsOne
