The Cecil College baseball team traveled to warmer weather in Columbia, South Carolina, where they heated up offensively to pick up two big wins against Columbia International University JV. With their 13-0 and 16-4 wins over the Rams, the Seahawks improved to 3-3 overall heading into their home opener on Saturday.
The Seahawks opened their season with an offensive struggle against Delaware Technical Community College, after only putting up seven runs in four games played in Georgetown, Delaware. However, their bats started to get hot and the defense put together thirteen straight shut-out innings down south to return home at the .500 mark.
The Seahawks and Rams opened the first game with scoreless innings, but the Seahawks were first on the scoreboard with a single run in the second inning. They tallied another run in the fourth, followed by 11 runs in the final three innings of the contest to secure the 13-0 victory.
Sophomore pitcher Paul Layton got the start for the Seahawks and threw seven innings and tallied 10 strikeouts, while only allowing three hits. The Seahawks' defense was flawless while recording 27 put outs, led by Reese Crounse, seven assists, and a double play turned by Michael Worthington and Dante DiSabatino.
Kipp Hillson went 3-for-5 on the day with his first home run of the season and also scored three runs and brought in three RBI's. Freshman Daryn Bacon also recorded a homer for the Seahawks, marking it the first of his career, while also tallying four RBI's in the victory. Andrew Imbierowicz, Alvin Garcia, Reese Crounse, Patrick O'Brien, and Dante DiSabatino also recorded at least one hit for the Seahawks.
In the second game against the Rams, the Seahawks put up two runs in the initial inning, two runs in the fourth inning, and expanded their margin with a huge eleven-run sixth inning. They finalized their second victory of the day with a single run in the 8th.
Cameron Blankenship started on the mound in game two with five innings pitched and four strikeouts, while allowing two runs and walking zero batters. Brandon Snyder, Colin Balthaser, and Tucker Sanders finished the nine-inning contest with a combined effort in relief.
Andrew Imbierowicz and Michael Worthington each went 4-for-6 and combined for six RBI's, including Imbierowicz's first homer of the season, in game two of the day. Davis Jenkins went 3-for-4 with two doubles, three RBI's and scored two runs. Kipp Hillson, Daryn Bacon, Patrick O'Brien, Evan James, and Brendan Reilly also tallied hits against the Rams.
The Cecil College baseball team returns to action on Saturday, February 29 and Sunday, March 1 as they host Westchester Community College for four games in their home opener. First pitch for both days is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. at Brockell Field in North East, Md.