MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – Barry University’s baseball started 2014 strong with a day-night doubleheader sweep over Shorter University Saturday at Feinbloom field winning game one, 8-5, before taking the night-cap, 4-3.
Game One
Billy Atkins took the hill for the Buccaneers in game one and delivered five solid innings of work allowing just three runs through five innings of work while fanning five hitters.
Barry (2-0) grabbed the early lead after Carlos Matamoros drove in J.C. Cardenas for the game’s first run.
In the fourth inning, the Bucs added to their lead with a three-run outburst capped by Khalil Denson’s two-run double down the right-field line to plate Cardenas and Ramon Valdez and grab a 4-1 lead.
Shorter (0-2) scored a pair of runs in the fifth frame to cut the deficit to just one after Atkins finished his final inning of the day.
Joe Iorio (1-0) entered the game in relief of Atkins and delivered three strong innings of work in which he struck out three batters and allowed just one run, unearned, on just one hit.
Tyler Kellmann lead off the eighth inning with the game knotted up at four and sparked a rally with a bunt for a hit in which he eventually ended up at second base on a throwing error by third baseman Chad Ikerd.
RBI singles from Greg Brodzinski, Cardenas and Denson followed and Matamoros added the fourth run on a triple to centerfield to score Cardenas once again.
Nate Greeves worked the ninth and struck out a pair of batters to seal the victory.
Cardenas and Denson, the eighth and ninth hitters in the lineup, combined to go 6-for-7 with three runs, and 5 RBI’s in the game-one victory.
Colton Cross was tagged with the loss for the Hawks after allowing four runs in as many innings of work, despite striking out six batters. Charlie Gillis and Jesse Gavigan each homered for Shorter and led the offense in the opener.
Game Two
The nightcap saw Adrian Benitez (1-0) get the start for the Buccaneers despite being used primarily as a reliever a year ago. Benitez worked four innings and allowed just three hits and one run in his first start of the season.
Cardenas continued to swing a hot bat, adding a pair of hits with a walk and an RBI in game two. Cardenas and Matamoros each drove in a run in the second inning to give the Bucs the 2-0 lead.
Ian Redetzky hit a homer for Shorter in the fourth to cut the deficit to one and both teams traded a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth and top of the sixth, but the game remained a one run contest in favor of the Bucs heading into the final inning.
Joeanthony Rivera worked the final out of the sixth inning and retired the side in order in the seventh to pick up his first save of the season.
Justin Machado earned the loss for the Hawks as he allowed just two runs in four innings despite walking five batters.
Brendan Shaw was the only other Buccaneer to finish with multiple hits in the night-cap going 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Shaw finished the double-header with three hits.
Cardenas led the team with five hits in the double-header, Denson added four in his first collegiate action as a true-freshman and Brodzinski also added a pair hits.
Barry returns to action Sunday against Shorter University in the final game of the three-game series between the South Region foes.
Live-stat and video broadcast is available through the Barry University athletics website, GOBARRYBUCS.COM.