LAKE WALES, Fla. -- After a firework filled game one against Warner University that ended in a walk-off loss, the Spring Arbor University baseball team responded well in the first game of a doubleheader on Friday, picking up their first win of the young season. An offensive explosion was the catalyst for the victory, as the Cougar lineup posted 14 runs, highlighted by a 10-run fifth inning, resulting in the 14-7 final. 


THE BASICS
SCORES: Spring Arbor 14, Warner 7
Spring Arbor 7, Warner 9
LOCATION: Lake Wales, Fla.
RECORDS: Spring Arbor 1-4, Warner 

 
GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS

• Bryce Richey began the scoring for the Cougars in their three-run third inning with a sac fly, one of his three RBIs in the contest. Richey added two hits and two runs scored to his big game one at the dish. 
• Braydon Gregory had a massive day at the plate, breaking the game open with two run-scoring triples in the same inning, part of the Cougars 10-run fifth. Gregory finished 3-for-4 with a run scored and five RBIs. 
• Other impactful hitters included Zach Adams, going 2-for-4, Ben Redfield going 1-for-2 with a walk, RBI, and run scored, and, both, Brennan Moran and Joey Tessmer adding RBIs.
• Josh Murphy had an efficient effort on the bump, picking up his first win of the season. Murphy posted five innings on 70 pitches, allowing seven hits, and five runs, with only one of those runs being earned. He added two punchouts and didn't issue a free pass. 
• Colin Snyder closed the game out in his first appearance of the season, thwarting a mini Warner rally after replacing Murphy, going two innings, allowing two hits, two runs, and striking out one. 

 
 
GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS

• Game two was a riveting back-and-forth affair, with three lead changes, and a lot of offense. The Cougars, down four runs in the final frame, were able to cut the deficit to two, and had the tying run at the plate, but were unable to push those two runs across, resulting in the 9-7 Royals victory. 
• Ben Redfield kicked off the scoring for the Cougars with a sac fly to left in the fourth inning. Redfield had a solid day at the plate, with an RBI, a run scored, and two walks. 
• The Cougars took the lead in the fifth on an error from Warner's catcher, but a home run from Warner's John Malcom tied the score in the fifth, and the Royals would later take the lead in that inning on a RBI double. 
• The Cougars roared right back in the sixth, as Jake Zeeb had a clutch two-RBI single to left to reclaim the lead, but that would be short lived as the Royals responded with a four-run sixth to go up 9-5 heading into the final frame. 
• Two runs via walks and a balk brought Spring Arbor within two, 9-7, with the tying run at the plate, but the Cougars were unable to execute. 
• Freshman John Hojnowski made his first career start and threw well, going 4.2 innings, surrendering nine hits, four runs and two walks, while striking out three. 

UP NEXT
Spring Arbor wraps up the series with Warner on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 11 a.m.