Hawks pound Bridgeport, 15-3

Wenkai Campbell led the way as the clean-up hitter went 4-for-4 with two doubles, four RBIs, two runs scored and four stolen bases. Noah Braham, the number three hitter, went 2-for-2 with a home run, three runs scored and five RBIs.

Jake Croston, the number six hitter, went 3-for-4 with a home run, double and five RBIs. Cody Thomas was 2-for-3 and three runs scored and Jett Walters went 2-for-4.

“We have a very potent lineup one through six and we squared up on a lot of balls today,” University coach Brad Comport said. “We have a lot of guys who can hit the ball for power and we put it all together at the plate.

“It is always important when you play a sectional opponent and a team as good as Bridgeport. The win is very good for these guys confidence and you just want to build off a win like this.”

The Hawks scored at least one run in every inning and plated three runs on two hits in the first inning against Indians starter and losing pitcher Kasen Baun.

Brodee Latocha singled, Thomas was hit by a pitch and both runners moved to second and third on a balk. Braham followed with a sacrifice fly to center scoring Latocha with the first run of the game.

Campbell plated Thomas with a double down the left field line and he later scored on a Croston RBI groundout.

The Indians (13-6) cut the deficit to 3-2 with two runs in the bottom of the first inning as Zach Rohrig singled and stole second. One out later, Phil Reed walked and both runners scored on a Mark Biafore two-run single to left.

University extended the lead to 6-2 in the second inning as Latocha walked, Thomas doubled to left and Braham was intentionally walked to load the bases. Campbell followed with a bases clearing double to left field.

“University just barreled the ball all over the place, we had six strike outs with five of them looking and we had some miscues on defense that extended innings,” Bridgeport coach Robert Shields said. “It was just a bad performance all the way around.”

Croston hit a solo home run in the third inning for University and the Hawks scored two more runs in the fourth inning on RBI singles by Braham and Croston to increase the lead to 9-3.

University sent 11 batters to the plate in the fifth inning to score six runs on six hits breaking the game wide open with a 15-3 advantage.

The big hit of the inning was Braham connecting for a three-run home run to deep left center field. Croston later added a two-run double and Tyler Furbee drove in the final run with a RBI single to left.

Logan Vance was the benefactor of all the run support for University as he started and went four innings to get the win giving up three runs on five hits, while striking out six.

Biafore led the Indians at the plate going 2-for-2 with three RBIs. Rohrig also went 2-for-2 and two runs scored for Bridgeport who had only five hits in the game.