Nelson Baseball Battled Rival on Tuesday Night

The Nelson University Arizona Warriors baseball team battled #10 nationally ranked ACU Tuesday night, bringing the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth, and falling just short by a score of 5-3 despite out hitting ACU 9-6.

Eddie Aceves started on the bump for the Warriors, giving one of his strongest outings of the year going 5 innings allowing only 4 hits, 1 earned run and inducing 2 strikeouts. After a 1-2-3 inning in the second for Aceves and the Warrior defense, Matthew Schultz wasted no time jump starting the offense with a double to the left-center gap. Manny Frias-Moreno then belted a frozen rope but a great defensive play from the outfield kept him off the bases. With 2 outs, senior Eric Thomas Jr. sent a clutch hit to the right center gap to even the score at 1-1. 

In the top of the third, a slick 5-4-3 double play from Zach Walsh and Kaysen Kajiwara helped thwart a potential rally from ACU. Both teams traded zeros on the scoreboard in innings 4, 5, and 6 as Aceves, Justin Burns and the Warrior defense locked down the potent ACU offense. Burns worked a very efficient and effective 6th, only needing 7 pitches in his 1-2-3 inning. 

Burns continued to battle in the 7^th after a tough luck swinging bunt infield hit started the inning. With traffic on the bases, the sophomore from Michigan induced 2 flyouts and a great play from RF Hector Navarro saved a run. 

In the home half of the 7th, the Warriors continued to battle and put a lot of pressure on the defense with Senior Zach Walsh leading off and capitalizing on a tough ball in the air that fell between defenders and getting to second base, one of his three hits on the night. After a single from Thomas, Senior Kajiwara executed a perfect sac bunt to advance the runners. Freshman Hector Navarro then scored Walsh on well-hit ground ball and advanced Thomas to third. Another big two out hit came from the loud bat of AJ Estill, crushing a triple to the right center gap with 2 strikes, making the score 5-3.

In the top of the 8th and 9th, Freshman Deondre Collier continued the great effort from the pitching staff with 2 innings of relief, allowing only 1 hit and zero walks. In the home half of the 9th, Walsh was able to get on base again with a single to bring the tying run to the plate, but the rally came up just short off the ACU closer. Overall, a great effort from the Warriors who went toe-to-toe with a perennial national contender.  

Your Nelson Warriors are back on the diamond on Friday February 28^th at 5:45 pm at Indian School Park vs. Briar Cliff (Iowa).