Golden Eagle baseball loses three to Salt Lake

By Sun Advocate

College of Eastern Utah’s baseball went 1-3 last weekend against Salt Lake Community College, losing game one on Friday, April 22, 1-4 and game two on Friday, 1-3. The Eagles won game three on Saturday 4-2 and lost game four, 1-3.
After two innings in game one, CEU was down by one. SLCC’s Derrick Thomas had walked to first and advanced to second on a ground out by Mac Nelson. Derrick Thomas then advanced to third when Zadock Christensen hit a single. An error by Brett Nigbur then allowed Derrick Thomas run home.
In the top of the third, the Eagles made their only point. After one out, center fielder Colton Ray walked to first. When Tyler Jones was called out after hitting a grounder to the pitcher, Ray advanced to second. A single to center field by Colston Robinson gave Ray the chance to run in.
But the Bruins were unwilling to let the game stay tied. In the bottom of the third, CEU pitcher Zac Dinkins walked Klint Anderson, who stole second and then advanced to third on an error by catcher Preston Hansen. A double base hit by Jeremy Thomas batted Anderson in.
But the Bruins weren’t through. A homer by Todd Barr brought another two runs for Salt Lake, and the Eagles were down by two at the end of the third.
The Eagles were unable to respond. A double by Nigbur in the fourth brought hope for scoring, but Nigburt was left on base as Adam Hutchinson struck out and One Taumoepeau was called out after hitting a grounder to third. Even in the third, the Eagles were still looking good as Nelson was caught stealing second.
When neither team had a run for the rest of the game, the Bruins won by two.
With game two scoreless at the bottom of the third, SLCC’s Zac Christensen hit a single and then stole second. Eli Christensen hit a single out to center field. But as Ray threw to Jones at second, and Jones threw to Nigbur for the out and end of the inning, Zadock Christensen had time to score.
In the top of the fourth, Cornia got on base walking, but was caught stealing third. Two more quick outs by Nigbur and Taumoepeau finished the inning for the Eagles.
In the top of the fifth, Hansen was hit by pitcher Lucas Trinniman. A single by Mitch Ramsdell advanced Hansen to second. Ray then hit a sacrifice bunt, allowing Hansen to reach third, leaving Ramsdell on second and Ray on first.
With bases loaded, Hutchinson struck out. Jones hit a sacrifice fly to right field, batting in Hansen and advancing Ramsdell to third. Ray then proceeded to steal second before a ground out by Colston Robinson brought the third out and left the game tied 1-1.
An uneventful sixth for CEU gave SLCC a chance to gain the lead. Eli Christensen was out easily on a pop fly to first base. Anderson then hit a single, followed by another single by Jeremy Thomas, allowing Anderson to make it the third. CEU pitcher Hanson Perkins loaded the bases when he walked Barr, advancing Jeremy Thomas to second. A sacrifice bunt to the pitcher by Derrick Thomas advanced all the runners and brought Anderson home. Blake Mickelson struck out, leaving two on base, but the Bruins were now up by one going into the seventh.
Although the Eagles were down by one, they fought hard in the seventh. A single by Hansen started off the inning. But the Bruins weren’t taking any chances and made their first pitching change with Daniel Bloedorn coming in for Trinniman. CEU brought out Crosby Oldham as a designated hitter for Ramsdell. Oldham walked, advancing Hansen to second. Levi Watts then came out of the dugout to run for Hansen.
SLCC switched pitchers again, bringing in Jordan Smith. A bunt by Ray loaded the bases, and SLCC switched pitchers again, bringing in Keith Nelson. Brandon Bumgarner then hit a single as a designated hitter for Hutchinson, hitting in Watts. Jones then made it to first when Zadock Christensen chose to throw to Mickelson at home for the force out.
An error by Jeremy Thomas let Robinson onto first and allowed runs by both Bumgarner and Ray. Two fly outs by Cornia and Nigbur left Jones and Robinson on base.
Up by two, CEU was unwilling to chance a loss and made quick changes to start the inning, changing players in both the infield and the outfield and bringing in Riley Gordon for Perkins at the mound.
Allowing just a single by Zadock Christensen, the Eagles kept the lead, ending the game with a 3-1 win.
Game three was an easy win for the Bruins, who scored two runs in the first inning after an error by Jones at second base. Salt Lake scored again in the third, after Anderson made it to third when a bad throw to stop him at second let him keep running. A single by Jeremy Thomas allowed the run, and the Bruins took a 3-0 lead.
The Eagles finally scored in the seventh after a double base hit by Oldham. Taumoepeau grounded out the the pitcher, allowing Oldham to make it to third. When Bumgarner grounded out to first, Oldham ran in for CEU’s only point.
The game ended with CEU down by two, losing 1-3.
Game four started out good for the Eagles, when two sacrifice hits let Jones score in the top of the first.
But Salt Lake responded with two runs of their own. After Eli Christensen walked, a triple by Barr brought him home. Then a grounder by Jeremy Thomas brought Barr home.
The Bruins added another point in the second by Smith.
With no more points in the rest of the game, the Eagles managed to get runners on base, but no runs, and the game ended with CEU down by two, losing again 3-1.
The Eagles, now 8-27 in the conference, maintain their fifth place ranking as they prepare for away games against College of Southern Idaho with doubleheaders tomorrow and Saturday.