Union baseball sweeps KCU in conference series

Barbourville, Ky. - The Union Commonwealth University baseball team faced off against KCU in a three-game conference series over the weekend — and the Bulldogs came away with a sweep.

They took game one 9-5, dominated game two 16-1, and closed out the series with a 7-0 shutout in game three.

Game One

The Bulldogs had a strong showing in game one, where they tallied 14 hits. Aaron Barrera led the way, going 4-for-4 with two RBIs and a walk. Ernesto Moreno added a 2-for-4 performance with one run and a walk.

Brendan Hillis, Isaiah Pintor, and Max Charlton each had two hits, while Jayden Gonzalez and Raebert De Los Santos had one apiece. Gonzalez and Charlton each scored twice.

Charlton drove in three runs, while Hillis and De Los Santos had two RBIs each. Hillis and Charlton both hit home runs, and Pintor added a double. On the bases, Jonathan Miles stole two, while De Los Santos and Pintor each had one.

Logan Romasanta started the game with one inning on the mound. Ethan Warren pitched the final 7.2 innings, earning the win with five strikeouts.

Game Two

The Bulldogs took game two in seven innings, putting up 16 runs on 14 hits.

Hillis led the way, going 3-for-4 with two home runs, three runs scored, and two RBIs. Barrera went 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Gonzalez had three hits, including a home run and a double, driving in three and scoring four times. Kale added two hits, two RBIs, and scored twice.

Moreno homered and had three RBIs, while De Los Santos, Pintor, and Tomkinson each added a hit. De Los Santos and Pintor also drove in one run apiece. Hillis and Pintor each stole a base.

Jackson Clark earned the win with four strikeouts. Tucker Allen and Dalton Kottmer each pitched in relief, allowing just one hit and no runs, with Kottmer striking out two.

Game Three

UCU tallied 10 hits in game three to shut out the Knights, 7-0.

Pintor led the way, going 3-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored. Gonzalez and Allen each went 2-for-4, while De Los Santos, Tomkinson, and Charlton each added a hit.

De Los Santos scored twice, with Kale, Gonzalez, Hillis, and Allen each scoring once. Allen drove in three runs, while Hillis and Tomkinson each added one RBI. Allen also recorded the team's only double.

Pintor and Charlton each stole a base.

Evan Hiatt earned the win, throwing five shutout innings with 10 strikeouts. Dylan Hetzler tossed two scoreless innings in relief, adding one strikeout.