Moore's Seventh Complete Game Helps Cavs To A Split

Matt Blackwell continued to swing a hot bat Friday, going 4-for-7 in a doubleheader split with Wayland Baptist at Wilder Field. The Cavaliers took the opener, 4-3, before falling in the nightcap, 9-0. Blackwell had another solid day after ending an 0-for-29 streak earlier in the week with a game-winning home run against Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College.

Mark Milioto, who has had only one multi-hit game since starting the season with six in his first nine contests, went 2-for-3 in Game 1. He finished with three hits on the day.

SGU's Jordan Funtila extended a 1-0 second-inning lead in the opener to two runs with an RBI double down the left-field line. An inning later, Jacob Ratliff made it 4-0 SGU with his second home run of the season – a two-run shot over the wall in left.

That was just enough support for SGU starter Ben Moore. After WBU cut the lead to 4-3 in the fourth, the junior lefty allowed only two hits over the final three innings to close the door on the home team and run his record to 6-3 on the season. Moore earned his seventh complete game of the year, striking out eight in a 128-pitch effort.

Blackwell and Milioto each had two hits to lead the Cavs offensively in the opener.

SGU starter Joey Moreno (3-5) didn't fare as well as his predecessor in the nightcap. The junior from King City, Calif., dropped his third consecutive decision, giving up seven runs on 10 hits. The Pioneers scored two in the first and one in the third before chasing Moreno with a four-run, four-hit fourth inning.

The Cavalier offense, meanwhile, was mostly silent, managing only four hits for the game. Blackwell had two of those, both singles.

SGU (14-22, 2-12 SAC) will conclude its series at Wayland Baptist Saturday. That doubleheader is scheduled for a noon start.