Gators out last Vaqueros 7-4

06.02.2021

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - The No. 3 seed San Jacinto (TX) Gators used the long ball to move on in the winner's bracket of the 2021 Alpine Bank JUCO World Series after a 7-4 win over No. 6 seeded Central Arizona in game 13 on Tuesday evening at Suplizio Field.

The two teams were knotted at three runs a side after two innings of play after some defensive miscues by each in the outfield.

Central Arizona (49-8, 1-1 JUCO) grabbed a lead after a home run by leadoff batter Preston Godfrey. Godfrey sent a 2-2 pitch over the fences giving the Vaqueros a short lived 4-3 lead.

The Gators (51-13, 3-0 JUCO) countered with four unanswered runs to seal the win. Mason Auer sent a 1-2 pitch out of the yard in the bottom of the fifth for a two-run home run giving them a 5-4 lead at the time.

Sabin Ceballos added to the San Jac lead in the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run of his own before the final run came across in the seventh inning on a wild pitch.

Harold Coll was the lone batter in the Gator lineup with a multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-3 with a run scored, a run driven in and a home run in the second inning.

For the Vaqueros, Dayton Dooney paced the offense with a 3-for-4 effort that included two doubles and a run driven in.

Evan Hiatt earned the win in relief of starter Matthew Tieding. Hiatt (1-0) went an inning and two-thirds of no-hit relief, allowing just two walks and striking out two.

Central Arizona's Hunter Omlid took the loss after allowing six runs (five earned) on four hits, walked two and struck out seven in five innings.

The win by the Gators sets up the Lone Star showdown tomorrow night as they will square up with McLennan at 7:30pm. Central Arizona will play an elimination game at 3pm against Cowley College.