O'Fallon, MO 5/12/2023- After losing the semi-final game last night, the Blue Jay baseball team was back in action at Car Shield Field to take on Eureka College in an elimination game. The loser goes home, and the winner moves on to play later in the day against the loser of Webster University and Spalding University from the winner's bracket. Senior centerfielder Steven Diaz (Highland, Il. / Highland) would hit for the cycle, and his home run would be the Blue Jays' 57th of the season, setting the SLIAC single-season record for most home runs in a season by a team. Westminster would go on to win the game 6-4 and move on to the second elimination game of the day, set to take place at 6:00 PM.
The Red Devils would score first after Trent Morrow (Russellville, Mo. / Russellville) the Blue Jays starter, got in some trouble early with a leadoff walk then committed an error on back-to-back pickoff attempts to put a runner on third. Eureka would slap a single to right field to score a run. They would score again in the top of the second inning drawing another leadoff walk then back-to-back hit by pitches to load the bases with one out. The Red Devils hitter would reach on an RBI fielder's choice and put Eureka up 2-0.
Morrow would get out of the inning giving only the one run. He would settle down and go on to pitch five innings, giving up two runs on three hits. He would have two strikeouts, three walks, and two HBP. Morrow would get the win and improve his record to 4-5 on the season.
Heading into the bottom of the second, the Blue Jays trailed 2-0 with their season on the line. Spencer Keiser (Old Monroe, Mo / Winfield) would start a one-out rally with a base hit to left field. Jason Pesold (Arnold, Mo / St. Pius X) would reach on an error by the Red Devil second baseman to put runners on first and second. The runners would advance up to second and third on a wild pitch. Matt Lukins (Clark, Mo / Rock Bridge) would single to the right side of the infield and score Keiser. Diaz would get his historic day started with a double to center and score Lukins and Pesold to put Westminster up 3-2.
Diaz would lead off the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run to left field to set the conference record for most home runs in a season by a team. It would be Diaz's tenth home run of the season. Quin Adelson (Louisville, KY / North Oldham) got into one later in the inning and it would hit off the top of the wall for an RBI double, he would score Troy Romero (Trophy Club, TX / Byron Nelson) would walk after the Diaz home run and later stole second base.
The Blue Jays would score again in the bottom of the sixth inning with Pesold getting on with a one-out walk and then moving up to second with a passed ball. Diaz would step to the plate with two outs in the inning, he would deliver an RBI triple to score Pesold and give the Blue Jays a 6-2 lead. Diaz would single to complete the cycle in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Diaz would go 4-4 on the day with four RBIs and one run scored as the Blue Jays kept their season alive.
Westminster will be back in action at 6:00 PM tonight as they will play in the second elimination game from Car Shield Field.
