The Briar Cliff baseball team earned a doubleheader sweep over Dordt Friday at the Bishop Mueller Complex, taking game one 6-3 before completing the day with a 9-2 victory.
Game One – W, 6-3
The Chargers struck early and never relinquished control in the opener, plating runs in four of the first five innings.
Briar Cliff got on the board in the first inning as Grant Devecsery drove in Nico Sall with an RBI single. The Chargers added two more in the second, highlighted by a solo home run from Jake Christianson and an RBI double from Sall to make it 3-0.
After Dordt cut into the lead with a three-run fifth inning, Briar Cliff responded immediately. Christianson delivered again with an RBI single before Raenan Padilla came around to score on a Dordt error, extending the lead to 6-3.
Christianson led the offense with a perfect 3-for-3 day, including a home run and two RBIs while scoring three times. Sall added two hits and an RBI.
On the mound, Nick Hays went the distance, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits while striking out eight to earn the win.
Game Two – W, 9-2
The Chargers used a big middle innings surge to pull away in game two and secure the sweep.
After Dordt opened the scoring in the third inning, Briar Cliff answered in the bottom half with an RBI single from Cael Walrod. The Chargers took the lead for good in the fifth inning when Cade Marquardt launched a two-run home run to make it 3-2.
Briar Cliff broke the game open in the sixth inning, scoring five runs on three hits and capitalizing on Dordt miscues. Jake Bussom drove in two runs during the rally, while Marquardt and Devecsery each added RBIs.
Marquardt paced the offense, going 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs. Walrod added two hits and two RBIs, while Raenan Padilla and Jake Christianson each recorded multi-hit performances.
On the mound, Brendan Ward picked up the win in relief, while Zach Lamont earned the save with three scoreless innings to close the game.
Briar Cliff totaled 23 hits across the two games. The Cliff improve to 20-21 (13-9 GPAC) and will head to Forest City, Iowa this Sunday to take on the Waldorf Warriors. Game one is slated for 1p.m. with game two following shortly after.
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