The Royals picked up their first win as they travelled to Branson, Missouri on Tuesday to play College of the Ozarks in a midweek doubleheader.
The offense went to work early, playing 2 in the first inning of the day off an RBI single from Catcher Tavo Soto followed by Julian Aguilera scoring on a wild pitch.
After giving up 2 in the bottom half to tie it up, the offense answered right back in the top of the 2nd when Jett Warner singled center, scoring Adrian Vivo to take a 3-2 lead.
After starter Aiden Wagley put up a 0 in the bottom half, the offense really poured it on in the 3rd inning. With RBIs from Tucker Bradley (FC, 1 RBI) CJ Price (Single, 2 RBIs), Ethan Delgado (Triple, 2 RBIs), Jett Warner (Single, 1 RBI), and Ray Jaramillo (Single, 1 RBI), the Royals took a commanding 11-2 lead.
C of O answered back with 2 runs in the bottom of the 4th to bring the score to 11-4, but the Royals continued to answer back when Tavo Soto scored on a wild pitch in the top of the 5th.
The score would remain the same as the Royals took Game 1 12-4. Aiden Wagley picked up the win, going 3.1 innings, giving 1 hit, 3 runs and striking out 3. Eduardo Soto and Josh Nicholson both pitched well in relief, Soto went 1.2 innings, giving up 3 hits, 1 run, and striking out 1 while Nicholson threw 2 no-hit innings.
Game 2 didn't start as planned as the Bobcats scored 2 runs on wild pitches in the first inning. After this, however, starter Cole Edwards settled in, going 4.1 innings in total while giving up 3 hits and 2 earned runs and striking out 2.
The offense came back alive in the 5th inning when Jett Warner doubled off the left-center wall to bring in 2 runs, tying the game 2-2. After a sac fly in the bottom of the 5th to give the Bobcats the lead, the Royals tied it right back up in the 6th when Diego Canuelas doubled to score Tavo Soto. CJ Price hit a hard ground ball fielded by the first baseman and Freshman Ike Freeman beat out the throw at home to score, giving the Royals the lead 4-3.
C of O tied the game in the 6th on another sac fly and, after a scoreless top half of the 7th, the Bobcats scored on a walk-off single to right field.
Ecclesia and C of O will meet again in another midweek on February 18 in Springdale. Both teams will still have a chance to take the 4-game series and if Tuesday was any indication, it will be must-watch baseball. If you can't come out and watch, be sure to stream it from our website.
