PHOENIX, Ariz. – Shawn Barrowdale was hit with a 1-2 breaking ball with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning to force in the winning run, as Benedictine-Mesa earned a 3-2 victory over the College of Idaho in Game 3 of the 4-Him Classic at Gene Autry Park.
Christian Camacho led off the eighth for the Redhawks (3-2) with a walk and moved to third on a Marshall Forest single. After an intentional walk loaded the bases, C of I reliever
Nathan Pena fanned Andrew Apodaca, but plunked Barrowdale on the front shoulder to bring home Camacho to end the game.
Starter
Hunter Boyd was impressive in his Coyotes (0-1) debut, working five innings of five-hit ball, striking out six. He allowed a single-run on a Drew Lawrence squeeze bunt in the fourth and a solo homer to Travis Hunt in the fifth inning.
The Yotes tied the game in the top of the fifth – taking advantage of three BEN-U errors, as
Ryan Murkle scampered home on a throwing error by Redhawks catcher David Ortiz. After the solo homer gave the hosts the one-run cushion in the bottom of the frame, C of I answered in the sixth, as
Dominic Conigliaro sliced a leadoff double into the left field corner, with pinch runner
Mike Kirby scoring on a two-out
Tate Spivey single.
BEN-U starter Ryan Kokora fanned 10 in a no-decision, while C.J. Santoyo earned the victory in relief – striking out four without allowing a hit.
Four Coyotes had one hit in the loss – Conigliaro, Spivey,
Nate Hundley and
Carter Vieira – but C of I stranded five runners in scoring position on the night.
C of I plays a pair of game tomorrow on Day 2 of the tournament, meeting The Master's and Providence Christian.
