February 25, 2023
Waxahachie, TX – On Saturday evening in Waxahachie, Texas, the Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) Lions baseball team played in a nine-inning doubleheader versus Central Baptist College.
Game 1:
In the first game of the doubleheader, the Lions won in commanding fashion, scoring 13 to 1 over Central Baptist.
On the mound, Michael Watson was impenetrable. Only one run was allowed throughout his seven innings of work, which included seven strikeouts. The SAGU defense was able to catch Watson's upbeat confidence in the game. For Central Baptist batters, the left-handed pitcher was a tremendous nightmare on the mound.
Just as devastating as the SAGU defense was the SAGU offensive. Thanks to the combined 16 hits from 11 SAGU batters, an overwhelming barrage of runs was scored.
The Lions' top three batters were Matt Daiy, Craig Venable, and Alejandro Garcia. With their two hits each, Venable, Garcia, and Daiy each earned two runs.
A standout play had Craig Venable scoring by sliding into home plate on his belly just in time to avoid being tagged out by Central Baptist's catcher after Bryson Collins hit a triple to center field.
Game 2:
The Lions won the second game of the day 4–2 to clinch the doubleheader sweep. After the CBC team adjusted to the Lion's home-field advantage, the second game was much more fiercely contested.
Central Baptist College scored the first run, but Bryson Collins promptly answered for SAGU by hitting his first home run of the year by pounding a fastball to give the Lions a 2-1 advantage.
The SAGU Lions would add two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Grant McManus would enter the game in a jam, but he got the Lions out.
Pitches-Strikes: Matthew Hickey (108-65), Grant McManus (6-4), Jadon Harper (30-21), Cade Hendricks (13-9)
Cornacchione's Corner
"Great starts from Michael Watson and Matthew Hickey. Huge day from Bryson Collins. The guys put together one of our best all-around offensive games in game one. In game two, our bullpen stepped up at the end to finish the day," said SAGU head baseball coach Matt Cornachione.
The Next Step
On Tuesday, February 28th, Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) will face Wiley College in Waxahachie, Texas.
As a leading Christian university, SAGU educates and prepares individuals who want to serve Christ and others. SAGU helps students discover and develop their God-given callings in a Spirit-empowered, learning community. We believe in affordable tuition, made possible in part through the financial support of donors who embrace the mission of SAGU and the importance of affordable, accredited programs to train Christians for leadership in ministry, business, education, and service. Most majors are available in-person in Waxahachie, TX, and online through a wide range of associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.
