Baseball Scrimmage Report: Diamond Rebels open practice

Friday: Red 8, Blue 6

The Rebels opened practice on Friday with an intrasquad scrimmage that saw the red team power itself to an 8-6 win over the blue team.

Sophomore right-hander Bobby Wahl, who is expected to be the Friday night starter this season, got the start for the blue team but got roughed up in his first appearance of the spring. He gave up five runs on five hits with two walks and a strikeout.

For the red team, freshman right-hander Josh Laxer got the start and pitched two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit with a walk and a strikeout.

Senior Matt Snyder hit a two-run double before sophomore Preston Overbey followed with a three-run homer to extend the lead to 5-0. The blue team scored with three runs each in the third and fifth innings. Snyder showed his power again, hitting a three-run homer of his own in the sixth to give the Red team the 8-6 win. 

Senior Blake Newalu and junior college transfer Kody Sepulveda each had two hits for the red team, while Austin Anderson had a pair of singles and a pair of walks to lead the red team.

Saturday: Blue 10, Red 2

On Saturday, the blue team exploded for 10 runs led by senior Zach Kirksey, who drove in five runs, including a two-run double in the fourth inning.

The red jumped out in front with two runs and four hits off senior right-hander R.J. Hively, who is expected to be one of the weekend starters this season. Sophomore right-hander Mike Mayers started the game for the red and pitched two scoreless innings, giving up just one hit with two strikeouts and a walk.

Junior college transfer John Gatlin went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk, while Newalu and junior Alex Yarbrough each had a double and a walk for the blue team. After a big day at the plate Friday, Snyder had a pair of singles and a walk for the red team. 

In his first appearance of the spring, freshman right-hander Hawtin Buchanan gave up two runs on two hits with four walks and a strikeout.