Topeka, Ks. – The Westminster Blue Jays entered Sunday's final game of a three-game series with the Buena Vista Beavers looking for a sweep to start their season. The Blue Jays would use ten hits and some opportunistic pitching to come out with a 10-9 victory and a series sweep to improve to 3-0 on the new season.
The Blue Jays scored three runs in the first inning when Parker Schnieders was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and brought Payton Whitehead in to score. Coltin Green would follow with a two-run single to stake the Jays to a 3-0 lead.
In the fourth inning and the Beavers now ahead 4-3, Whitehead would come through with an RBI single to score green and tie the game 4-4. The next inning Austin Mayton would deliver a two-run single that would score Hunter Mulholland and Derek Shikles. Ben Parks would add an RBI groundout to give the Blue Jays a 7-4 lead in the top half of the fifth. The Beavers would add a run to cut the Jays lead to 7-5 after five.
The Blue Jays would go to work to extend their lead as Whitehead would lead off with a single. Hayden Hirschvogel walked and then a wild pitch would move both runners up. Shikles would then lift a fly ball to right field for a sacrifice fly to drive in Whitehead. Mulholland would break it open with a two-run homerun to take a 10-5 lead.
Freshman Matt Trout got his first collegiate start and went five innings giving up six runs on 12 hits. He struck out two and walked one. After the Beavers cut the Westminster lead down to 10-9 after seven Innings, head coach Zach Bishop went to his closer senior Andrew Boessen to get a two inning save. Boessen pitched two innings striking out four and preserving the lead. It was Boessen's second save of the season and the sixth of his career to move into second place all time saves list at Westminster. Trout (1-0) won his first career game.
Coach Bishop had this to say about the weekend, "It was a very back and forth game! We were able to execute on offense in some big spots and then hit the big Homerun for us. Trout didn't have his best stuff but found a way to give us five. A string of guys helped us get to Drew in the eighth and he did his thing." Bishop added, "It was just a really gritty weekend of baseball. We fought against some adversity and injuries and came out with some good wins. We will work to clean up our defense and cut down on the strikeouts to continue to improve." 11 freshmen made their debut on the weekend at the varsity level.
The Blue Jays will be back in action next Saturday at home when they will welcome Monmouth College for a 3:00 p.m. game. They will then follow with Central College at 6:00 p.m. at Saucier Field.
