Not every team has the luxury of having a dynamic hitter who has power potential from the leadoff spot. In fact, some would say it’s a luxury to have such a piece at the top of the lineup.
Since midway through last season, the Mavericks have received stellar production from the No. 1 spot in the lineup thanks to senior Hunter Douglas, whose two home runs on Friday night helped the Mavericks come away with a 3-2 victory against Northwest Nazarene University.
JR McDermott received the Opening Day nod for the Mavericks. The senior began the season carving up the Nighthawks with seven strikeouts through three innings.
CMU struck first when Douglas smoked his first home run of the contest to left field for the Mavericks’ first run of the season. The right fielder has been on fire since entering the leadoff spot during the 2018 season.
Jordan Stubbings, hitting from the three spot, handed CMU a 2-0 lead with an RBI single to left field after Caleb Farmer’s double.
McDermott, making his first start since being shut down after his third outing last season, opened 2019 strong. The 6’0 right-hander spun 5.0 innings of scoreless baseball and struck out nine batters. He allowed just one hit and one walk.
Head Coach Chris Hanks mentioned he is going to be cautious with McDermott in his return after such a long layoff. Although McDermott is healthy and feeling strong, Hanks plans to manage his workload til the midway point of the season, possibly skipping his turn in between starts.
Casey Smith | The CriterionSophomore Frankie Fitzgerald came in to relieve McDermott in the top of the sixth. The Nighthawks began to threaten during the inning when Ryan Connor Singled to right. Two batters later, Michael Hultz laced a double down the left field line to put runners in scoring position.
Fitzgerald escaped the jam and secured the last two outs, including a strikeout looking of Nazarene first baseman Kyle Redford.
If any single player was locked in Friday night, it was Douglas. The senior mashed his second home run of the game to left center in the 7th off right-hander Nick Irwin.
The Nighthawks chased Fitzgerald from the ball game in the top of the 8th. After two one-out singles, Parker Price hit a triple to right center the cut CMU’s lead to 3-2.
Garrett Hutson came in relief for Mesa and with one out and a runner on third, the righty came up clutch, striking out the No. 4 and 5 hitters to end the threat and strand Price on third.
Hutson stayed in for the top of the ninth and registered the last two outs via punchouts to secure his first save.
McDermott earned the win after a shutdown night on the bump. Douglas’s opening night was a big night as he finished 4 for 4 with two solo shots, a double and two RBIs. Farmer chipped in two hits including a two-out double.
Ben Johnson allowed four runs on six hits in 4.0 innings to take the loss. Nick Irwin pitched the last 4.0 innings for the Nighthawks and gave up one run on five hits.
