COD (21-12) collected their seventh consecutive win, keeping pace in the IEAC Championship hunt by knocking off the Mt. San Jacinto Eagles (15-15-1; 6-9), 8-4.

Freshman left handed starting pitcher Kenny Keller (Tampa (FL) Thomas R. Robinson) moved into the team lead with 48 strike outs on the season so far, six on the afternoon, in his eighth start of the year, going six innings and grabbing his fourth win.

Freshman right handed relief pitcher Matthew Sapakoff (Littleton (CO) H.S.) made his twelfth appearance of the year, tossing two innings and collecting three strike outs.

Freshman right handed relief pitcher Kenneth Schechter (Newtonville (MA) Newton North) returned to the mound for the first time since March 31st, closing out the game for his first save of the year, grabbing his 44th and 45th strikeouts of 2022.

Sophomore center fielder William Owens (Crescent City (FL) H.S.) had a great day out of the leadoff spot, going 2 for 2 with three runs scored, two runs batted in and three walks. He leads the team in hits (48), stolen bases (19) and base-on-balls (24) and is second on the team in runs scored (35) and RBI's (35). Owens hit his eighth double of the season in the seventh.

Freshman left fielder Graham Gonzales (Valparaiso (IN) H.S.) went 2 for 5 out of the two-hole in the lineup, continuing to lead the team with a .413 batting average among players with 70 or more at bats on the season.

Freshman short stop Dillon Baker (Tampa (FL) Carrollwood Day School) went 2 for 4 out of the three-hole in the lineup and is currently second on the team in hits with 47.

Freshman third baseman Spencer Dickinson (Rancho Mirage H.S.) went 2 for 4 out of the cleanup spot in the lineup and is currently second on the team with a .375 batting average among players with 70 or more at bats on the season.

Sophomore first baseman Jaxon Millet (Bethel (CT) H.S.) hit his ninth double of the season in the eighth, going 2 for 5 with a run scored out of the six-hole in the lineup.

Freshman right fielder Antonio Crews (Grayslake (IL) Central) went 1 for 4 with a pair of runs scored, giving him 21 on the season.

College of the Desert Baseball will continue Inland Empire Athletics Conference (IEAC) play by traveling to San Jacinto to face the Mt. San Jacinto Eagles on Thursday, April 14 at 2:30p. The next home game for the Roadrunners is Good Friday, April 15th at 2:30p, when the Mt. San Jacinto Eagles will conclude their season series with the Roadrunners.

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For additional information, please contact the COD Sports Information Office at 760.423.6641.

Information & Story provided by COD Sports Information. Photo by Michael Leone Photography (f8leone@yahoo.com).