Suns Split with Hesston in Home-Opening Weekend

LANCASTER, Texas – Dallas College Cedar Valley's baseball team split a doubleheader in its home opener Friday at Lancaster High School. The Suns dropped the first game to Hesston College 10-8 before shutting out the Larks 3-0 in the second game.

The two teams will play another twin bill at Cedar Valley 12 p.m. Saturday.

In Game 1, Cedar Valley (1-2) scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, matching Hesston's run production in the top half of the inning to pull within a run. But after the Larks (1-3) pushed another run across in the top of the seventh, the Suns could not answer.

Cedar Valley catcher Nathan Tucker went 2-for-3 with a double, triple and a sacrifice fly RBI. Right fielder Addison Brown doubled and drove in a run in four at-bats. First baseman Ty Willingham doubled, drove in a run and had a stolen base. Designated hitter Lane Atherton was 1-for-3 with a sacrifice fly to drive in a run. Third baseman Julio Cuotto singled, walked twice and drove in a run.

The Suns, which overcame a 5-1 deficit after the second inning to pull within a run after the fourth and sixth innings, scored in every at-bat but the fifth and seventh. Cedar Valley collected seven hits and seven walks.

Suns starter Drake McIver (0-2) took the loss, going four innings, and allowing one earned run on five hits and a pair of walks. He struck out five. Lyncoln Schaeffer worked an inning and two hirds, allowing an earned run on three hits and three walks, while fanning two. Francisco Hernandez went the final inning and a third, giving up an unearned run and two hits without issuing a free pass.

In Game 2, Suns starter Christian Alcala (1-0) went five innings, allowing three hits and two walks, while fanning six in a scoreless outing. Reliever/center fielder Rendon Garcia picked up the save, allowing just a walk, while striking out two in the final two innings on the bump.

Left fielder Ryan Hernandez was 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBI. McIver doubled, and Garcia and designated hitter Joshawa Esquivel each had a hit. Garcia and shortstop Jovan Bernal each had a stolen base.

Cedar Valley committed three errors in the second game after recording five in the first.

The Suns are in the midst of an eight-game homestand, which extends into next weekend when Redlands Community College comes to Lancaster for a pair of doubleheaders.