It was an early morning for the Red Hawks who were scheduled to play Western Oklahoma at 9:00am central in the first game of the NJCAA DII World Series in Enid, Oklahoma. The Red Hawks were able to log the first strikeout, the first hit and the first homerun of the World Series but unable to log the win falling to the #3 ranked Western Oklahoma Pioneers 5 -15.
The Red Hawks came out ready to fight in the first inning. Justin Norton came out striking out the leadoff batter for Western Oklahoma. In the bottom of the first Ivan Acuna hit a line drive single into right field for the first hit of the NJCAA DII World Series.
However, Western was able to strike first in the top of the second when a two out single to right field scored the runner on second who reached with walk and then stolen base.
Western added 3 runs in the top of the third thanks to two errors on the Red Hawks defense. A sacrifice fly to right field scored a runner on third, which reached on a bunt single then advanced to third with an error on a later play. Another error allowed Western to score their second run and a line drive single to CF scored a runner from second for their final run of the inning.
The Red Hawks use a fielding error and then a Randal Ortiz single to have runners on second and third with two outs in the bottom of the fourth. However Western was able to pick off Ortiz at second to end the inning and the Red Hawk scoring threat.
Western tacked on another run. A single to left field brought in the first run from third who reached with a leadoff double and advanced to third on a ground out. Another single to left field scored a runner on second with 2 outs and then a line drive to left center scored 2 more runs for Western.
With a hard ground ball to the shortstop Brandon Ford sprinted down the line forcing a bad throw from the shortstop to reach on an error. Skyler Strickland followed with a line drive double to the right center gap scoring Ford from first to give the Red Hawks their first run on the game in the bottom of the 5th. The Red Hawks almost tacked on another run but a diving catch by the Western centerfielder on a Trever Lee hit ended the inning.
The Red Hawks offense was able to open up the game in the bottom of the sixth inning scoring four runs. An Alex Minton two run homerun to right center scored Danny Sullivan who had reached on a single to left field. Ortiz followed up with a double of the left field fence. Ford reached when a throwing error from the shortstop to third ended up allowing Ortiz to score from second. Thomas Waddell came into the game as a pinch hitter and drove in Ford for the fourth run in the inning with a single up the middle.
Western was able to answer in the top of the seventh getting four runs of their own. A leadoff single, a hit batter and a walk loaded the bases and another walk brought in the first run of the inning. Trever Lee made a great unassisted double play to get two outs but a homerun to left field scored 3 more runs for Western.
Western added 3 more runs in the top of the eighth but the Red Hawks could not get together any offense and the game ended in the end of the eighth with the run rule in effect.
The Red Hawks offense was led by Ivan Acuna and Randal Ortiz who both went 2-4 while Ortiz added a run. Alex Minton was one for 3 with a homerun, two RBI and a walk. Justin Norton recorded the loss throwing 4.2 innings allowing 8 runs, 5 which were earned on 10 hits and threw 2 strikeouts.
The Red Hawks are scheduled to play the loser of the Fredrick CC (MD) vs. Lincoln Land CC (IL) tomorrow, 5/24, at 3:30pm.