MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – Barry University’s baseball team completed a three-game sweep over Saint Leo Saturday with a pair of wins, 9-3 and 14-6.
It was the Buccaneers’ third three-game sweep over an opponent on the season but this one carried more weight having come in Sunshine State Conference play.
GAME ONE
Barry (12-7, 4-2 SSC) fell behind in game one on Saturday as the Lions pushed across a first inning run against Kevin Youst but the right-hander struck out five in 6.1 innings of work in another impressive start.
Unfortunately for Youst, four defensive miscues in the seventh inning led to a pair of Lions runs as Saint Leo scored two runs and left two runners on base without a hit in the inning.
Saint Leo (10-6, 0-3 SSC0 threatened late in the game with a pair of runs in the seventh and had a bases loaded opportunity in the eighth but the Bucs’ bullpen answered the call. Tyler Kinley entered the game in the eighth inning with the bases loaded and one out and the Bucs leading 4-3.
Kinley retired the next two batters, striking out Kory Wan and inducing Daniel Torres to ground out to second base to end the threat.
Barry answered with five runs in the bottom of the fifth to extend its lead to 9-3. Sheehan Planas-Arteaga singled to right to drive in a pair of runs and Tyler Kellmann and Luis Arrizurieta each drove in a run to cap the late inning rally.
Five Bucs finished the first game with multiple hits including Michael Slabach, Adrian English, Kellmann and Michael Diaz.
Youst allowed three runs of which only one was earned and finished with five K’s but did not figure into the decision.
Adrian Benitez (3-0) earned the win after throwing one inning in relief.
Tyler Kinley picked up his first save of the season in 1.2 innings of work.
GAME TWO
In the nightcap the Bucs brought out their bats as they exploded for 14 runs in route to a series sweep of the Lions.
This time, the Bucs put up seven runs in a second inning rally that delivered a crushing blow to a Saint Leo squad that had entered the series with plenty of momentum.
Adrian English once again led the Bucs’ offense with a 3-for-4, three RBI performance. Freshman shortstop J.C. Cardenas also belted three games in the night cap.
Six Buccaneers finished with multiple hits in the series finale. Slabach, Planas, Kellmann and Arrizurieta each had two hits in the win.
Billy Atkins tossed five innings and allowed just three runs, two earned and finished with three K’s.
Alex Decker pitched 1.2 innings without allowing a hit or run in relief.
Barry will step away from conference play in the next few days as they’ll host Wilmington University on Tuesday night and a doubleheader against University of the Sciences on Wednesday.
All three games will carry live-stats and video broadcast coverage through the Barry University athletics website, GOBARRYBUCS.COM.
For Friday night video highlights CLICK HERE.