Rodriguez Paces Baseball in Shut Out Win Over BCU

CRETE, Neb. - Doane baseball knocked off GPAC-leading Briar Cliff in game one of Saturday's doubleheader, earning a 3-0 victory behind a dominant pitching performance and timely offense at Doane Ballfield Cmpx in Crete.

The Tigers improved to 21-7 overall and 8-3 in GPAC play with the win, while Briar Cliff fell to 13-15 overall and 6-3 in conference action.

Doane got all the offense it needed in the bottom of the third inning. After Sam Kwapnioski worked a one-out walk and Adam Vulcano moved him into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt, Carter Roth came through with a two-out ground-rule double to bring home the game's first run. Grant Sommers followed immediately with a single to left center, driving in Roth and extending the Tigers' lead to 2-0.

The Tigers added an insurance run in the fourth. Tanner Nelson led off the inning with a double to right center and was replaced on the bases by Thaden Wewel. Johnny Vulcano then delivered an RBI single up the middle, scoring Wewel and pushing the Doane advantage to 3-0.

That was more than enough support for Gabe Rodriguez, who turned in six shutout innings to earn the win. Rodriguez allowed just one hit while walking four and striking out two. He consistently kept Briar Cliff from finding any rhythm offensively.

Briar Cliff's best early opportunity came in the third inning after a walk and sacrifice bunt moved a runner to third with one out, but Rodriguez induced back-to-back groundouts to escape the jam. He also got help from his defense and battery in the sixth when Nico Sall drew a leadoff walk but was caught stealing, helping erase a potential threat before Rodriguez finished the inning with a strikeout and foul out.

Garrett Klein closed out the shutout in the seventh to record the save. Briar Cliff opened the inning with a leadoff double, but Klein responded by retiring the next three hitters, including a pair of flyouts to center field, to seal the win.

Doane was held to five hits in the contest, but made them count. Nelson led the way by going 2-for-3 with a double, while Roth doubled and drove in a run, Sommers added an RBI single, and Johnny Vulcano finished with a hit, an RBI, and a hit-by-pitch.

Briar Cliff starter Nick Hays took the loss despite tossing a complete game. He allowed three runs on five hits over six innings, striking out five.

Doane and Briar Cliff were set to continue the doubleheader with game two later Saturday.

(generated by ChatGPT)