GPAC

[Baseball] Nakamoto Keys Baseball Sweep of Cornerstone

Doane Baseball closed out their first meeting with Cornerstone on Saturday, capping a four-game series by taking game one, 11-4, and game two, 6-0. The Tigers recorded their first four-game sweep of a non-conference opponent since taking four from the University of Winnipeg in 2014. Game OneUnlike Friday's action, Doane scored their runs early against Cornerstone in the opener as they posted 10 runs in the first three innings. The Tigers pushed five runs across the plate in the 1st inning as they sent nine batters to the plate.The Golden Eagles were the first to score in the game as they plated two in the 1st with a two-out, two-run single. Doane came back in the bottom of the inning with three hits and three walks to plate five runs. Talon Little (JR/Lincoln, Neb.) had the first hit of the game for Doane, a RBI-single. Joe Osborn (FR/Hickman, Neb.) delivered a bases-loaded, two-run double, and Tucker Catlett (SR/Lincoln, Neb.) added an RBI-single. Jaryn Nakamoto (SR/Aiea, Hawaii) drove in the final run of the inning on a ground out.After a scoreless top of the 2nd, Andy Theiler (JR/Arlington, Neb.) led off the bottom of the inning with a solo home run to give the Tigers a 6-2 lead. In the bottom of the 3rd, Doane plated four more runs for a 10-2 lead. Nate Mensik (FR/Pleasant Dale, Neb.) and Osborn drew walks to open the inning and Catlett singled to load the bases. Nakamoto followed with a ground-rule double to plate two runs and Theiler added a two-run single.Cornerstone plated a run in the top of the 4th with the Tigers getting the run back in the bottom of the inning on a solo home run by Mensik, his third of the season. The Golden Eagles scored an unearned run in the 5th for the final run of the game.Doane out-hit CU, 12-10, in the game with Little collecting three hits for the Tigers. Doane received two hits apiece from Theiler, Mensik, Osborn, and Catlett. Mensik led the team with three runs scored and Theiler and Nakamoto had a team-high three RBIs apiece.Aaron Forrest (FR/Peoria, Ariz.) started for the Tigers and went 4.0 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out two. Forrest picked up the win to improve to 1-1 on the season. Nathan Stark (JR/Medicine Hat, Alberta) made his Tiger debut, throwing 2.0 innings and allowing one unearned run on three hits with four strikeouts. Julian Vargas (FR/Denver, Colo.) threw the final inning, striking out one and walking one. Game TwoDoane jumped out early and held Cornerstone's bats in check throughout the game to complete the sweep. In the bottom of the 1st, Doane drew three walks and added two hits to plate four runs. The first run of the game came as Osborn drew a bases loaded walk with two outs. A wild pitch plated the second run and Nakamoto followed with a two-run single to account for the Tiger runs.Tiger starter Jordan Wisner (JR/Anaheim Hills, Calif.) held Cornerstone in check, facing one batter over the minimum through five innings of work. He finished the game going 6.0 shutout innings, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out six. Evan Mason (FR/Aurora, Colo.) picked up the final three outs in the 7th.Doane added a couple of runs in the 5th inning as Theiler and White reached to open the inning. A wild pitch moved both runners up a base and Aaron Mason (SR/Omaha, Neb.) followed with a two-run single to put the Tigers up 6-0.For the game, Doane was limited to six hits with two coming off the bat of Nakamoto. White scored a pair of runs for the Tigers while Mason and Nakamoto drove in two runs apiece.