Suns Sweep Doubleheader to Take Series with Hesston

LANCASTER, Texas – Dallas College Cedar Valley's baseball team swept a doubleheader from Hesston College Saturday to win the weekend series.

The Suns won the first game Saturday, 7-3, and followed it up with an 8-6 victory in the nightcap. Cedar Valley won Friday's series opener, 7-4, before falling in the second game, 16-2.

Daniel Brandon III had three hits, including a double, and drove in two runs in Cedar Valley's first game Saturday. Noah Johnson went 2-for-4 with two runs batted in and a stolen base. Hayden Carpenter was 1-for-3 with two RBI.

Suns starter Kyler Baker went six innings, giving up two hits, three runs and a walk, and struck out six to get the win. Lane Atherton pitched a flawless seventh inning, not allowing a baserunner, and recording a strikeout to preserve Game 1.

The Suns (5-2) scored five runs in the fourth inning to take a 7-0 lead. Hesston (1-6) scored all three of its runs in the sixth inning before Atherton closed the door.

In Saturday's second game, the Suns jumped out to a 7-1 lead after scoring four runs in the bottom of the third. The Larks responded with four runs of their own in their next at-bat to cut the gap to 7-5. Cedar Valley added another run in the fifth before Hesston got one back in the sixth to keep it a two-run game. But Suns closer Aiden Hatton retired the last four batters to clinch the series with his first save.

Rafael Cortez went 2.1 innings, allowing a hit, two runs and two walks, and struck out three in relief to notch the win on the hill.

Carpenter had two doubles, and drove in a run. Jordan Anguiano went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Zachary Mikes was 1-for-2 with a pair of RBI and a stolen base. Johnson was 1-for-4 with a stolen base. Jacob Cueva went 1-for-3 with a stolen base. Brandon III was 1-for-4.

The Suns' pitching staff held Hesston to two hits in both games Saturday.

Cedar Valley will host Redlands Community College in a pair of doubleheaders Friday and Saturday.