By Nate Sanchez
Senior Staff Writer
On Saturday, Feb. 16, the ‘Runners beat the USC Trojans 9-4 at Hardt Field, staying undefeated on the season. The ‘Runners’ offense carried over from their previous game, a win over Nebraska by the same score. The ‘Runners collected their nine runs on only eight hits in the ballgame.
On the mound for the ‘Runners was senior Scott Brattvet, who last year finished tied with Jeff McKenzie and Taylor Aikenhead in wins with six. Brattvet went seven innings, allowed six hits and three earned runs, while recording eight strikeouts. Brattvet had some trouble in the top of the second inning, when an RBI single and a two-run home run put the ‘Runners into a 3-0 deficit.
“I just gave him a fastball up the middle and he smoked it,” Brattvet said after the game. Brattvet wouldn’t make another mistake on the day, seeing as that would be the last hit the Trojans would get from the right-hander. From the end of the third inning until the end of the seventh inning, the Trojans would not reach first base.
“His ball was moving a lot today. We were working mainly with the cutter,” said junior catcher Cael Brockmeyer. “He was keeping it low and was able to work a good changeup to the lefties.” Brockmeyer crushed a triple to straightaway centerfield that brought in three runs in an eighth inning that held four of the ‘Runners’ nine runs.
“I was really locked in and saw the spin on the ball,” Brockmeyer said about the blast. “I was able to throw my hands at it.”
The game proved to be a true test of the ‘Runners’ plate discipline. All nine spots in the lineup drew at least one walk. The ‘Runners patience at the plate took a toll on the Trojans’ pitching staff’s confidence. Of the final three relievers brought in by USC, not a single one was able to pitch a full inning. The Trojan bullpen accounted for five walks and four earned runs.
“If you have plate discipline, you’re putting the ball in play hard on the ground and you continue that kind of pressure, sooner or later, it breaks down,” head coach Bill Kernen said after the game. “I think we’re better than them. I really do. I think these guys grounded that out today and when it got to the end of the day, somebody had to end up with the blank and it wasn’t us. For us to be at that place at this time of the program, we feel very good about that.”
Friday’s game saw a record-setting attendance at more than 1,000 fans at the game. Saturday’s game proved to be much more popular, attracting more than 1,300 fans.
With wins against Nebraska and USC under their belts, the ‘Runners looked to take on CSU Fullerton on Sunday, Feb. 17, to try and sweep their opening weekend.
“I’ve got so much confidence in our guys, I think we’ve got a great shot to surprise the country this year,” Brattvet said.
“It’s a big game, definitely one we want to win with [Coach] Kernen’s past with Fullerton,” Brockmeyer said. “We’re gonna want to come out with a W. We’re a bunch of warriors out there and we’re gonna battle the whole game.”
