WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Brewton-Parker baseball traveled south to West Palm Beach, Florida to take on No. 25 Keiser (Fla.) to open the 2023 campaign.
The Barons (1-1) split the day with the Seahawks (1-1) picking up a 9-8 win in 10 innings in game one and dropping a 6-3 loss in game two.
Game 1 – Brewton-Parker 9, Keiser 8
Drew DeMasi recorded the first hit of the day with a double to right field in the top of the second inning. Unfortunately, the Barons followed with two-straight flyouts to leave DeMasi on base.
In the top of the third,
Malik Germany singled from the leadoff position but ended up being picked off at first base.
Kennard Dawson managed to connect on a double to right field to pick up the second hit of the inning but was left on base as
Eduardo Castillo grounded out.
Keiser struck first with four runs on three hits while taking advantage of a pair of miscues from the Barons taking the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. However, Brewton-Parker was able to answer with a run in the top of the fifth inning.
After a leadoff strikeout,
Jacob Mantooth doubled to left field before
Kyran Coleman reached first on an error which was enough to bring Mantooth across home plate. Dawson connected on a single to force Coleman to second before Coleman stole third base, but the pair were left on base due to a strikeout.
The Seahawks added one additional run to the tally in the bottom half of the inning, utilizing three hits. The Barons responded with a pair of runs on a trio of hits in the top of the sixth inning with
Brandon Lawrence leading things off with a double followed by a double from
Tate Worrell.
DeMasi produced a two-RBI single to score both Lawrence and Worrell to pull the Barons just two runs behind the hosts. It took until the top of the eighth inning for BPC to produce another run as Mantooth knocked out a solo homer to pull the Barons back to just a one-run deficit.
Keiser moved out to a three-run lead in the bottom of the eighth inning with two runs on two hits and an error from BPC. After starting on the bump and tossing seven innings,
Ty Cook was relieved of his duties and replaced by
Ryan Dopson.
The Seahawks produced a walk and two singles before taking advantage of an error off a bunt to score one run. Keiser followed by scoring on a fielder's choice before the Barons produced a 4-3 double play to close out the inning.
Down three runs, Brewton-Parker found three hits from Castillo, Lawrence, and
Anyelo Sanchez which helped to bring home three runs to level the score 7-7. The Barons had an opportunity to add to the score but left a pair of runners on base.
After holding off the hosts in the ninth, BPC notched two runs on three hits in the top of the eighth to capture a 9-7 lead. After a leadoff flyout, Coleman singled to left field before Dawson tripled down the right field line to bring Coleman home. Castillo then singled to bring Dawson across home plate which gave the Barons a two-run advantage.
Despite notching three hits and receiving an error from the visitors, Keiser managed to only score one run off a solo shot to left field. Fortunately for BPC, the hosts were unable to take advantage of the error and the Barons captured the 9-8 win to open the series.
Inside the Statistics
- The Barons recorded 15 hits with Dawson leading the way with three. Dawson, Lawrence, and Mantooth all notched two runs each to lead BPC while DeMasi led with three RBIs.
- As a team, BPC produced five doubles, one triple, and a homer.
- Cook opened with seven innings and recorded 13 strikeouts on the day, giving up five runs on six hits and a walk.
- Dopson picked up the win with 2.1 innings tossed, allowing three runs on three hits and a walk while striking out three batters.
- Noah Gilbert earned a save at the end of the game, tossing for four at-bats.
Game 2 – Brewton-Parker 3, Keiser 6
The Barons opened game two with a leadoff single from Dawson and a three-RBI double from DeMasi to score three runs in the top of the first inning. After holding Keiser to a scoreless first, BPC found singles from Germany and Dawson but was unable to capitalize on the hits, leaving a runner on base.
The hosts responded in the bottom half of the second inning, scoring two runs on a single after two-straight walks. Lawrence was able to connect for a double in the third but was left on base with a pair of strikeouts and a groundout.
Keiser leveled the game in the bottom of the third with a run on two hits, opening the inning with a reach on an error and following with a pair of singles. Both teams were held hitless through the fourth and into the top of the fifth inning.
The Seahawks took control of the score in the bottom of the fifth inning with back-to-back doubles and then added another run on a wild pitch. Unfortunately for Brewton-Parker, the Barons struggled to find a hit for the remainder of the game while the hosts tacked on one final run in the seventh inning off a sacrifice flyout. Keiser managed to hold off BPC in the final innings, securing the 6-3 win in game two.
Inside the Statistics
- Both teams produced five hits each while Brewton-Parker gave up two errors.
- Dawson led again with two hits and a run while Castillo and Lawrence both notched runs as well.
- DeMasi closed out the game with three RBIs off one hit.
- Three pitchers appeared on the mound for BPC with Matt Hager earning the start, tossing for four innings. He struck out three batters while giving up three runs on three hits.
- Chandler Koerner was given the loss in two innings of work, striking out two in the process.
- Robin Haven closed out the game in the final two innings, throwing a total of 28 pitches.
Next Up
- The Barons wrap up the series tomorrow at 11 a.m. ET.