MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – La Roche baseball pulled out its first win of the 2024 season, defeating Albertus Magnus by a final score of 7-3.
After a quick first inning, the Redhawks, acting as the home team, struck first in the bottom of the second, when Dom Brncic drove home Dimitri Gary with an RBI single to take a 1-0 lead.
The Redhawks would add to the lead in the bottom of the third, putting up a three spot in to up the lead to 4-0.
Gary this time collected an RBI with a single to score Josh Dreyer, followed by a Caden Maffitt RBI single scoring Casey Jones, as well as an RBI single from Brandon Snyder which allowed Gary to cross the plate for the second time in the game.
La Roche tacked on another run in the bottom of the fourth, when Larry Bielawski's RBI infield single brought home Danny Suarez to make it 5-0.
After scoreless fifth and sixth innings, the Redhawks added some more insurance in the bottom of the seventh, as Suarez drove in Snyder with an RBI single, followed by Dreyer reaching on an RBI fielder's choice that allowed Brncic to cross, making it a 7-0 game.
The Falcons would hit the scoreboard in the top of the eighth for the first time, plating two runs, making it 7-2.
The first run crossed after a defensive error by La Roche and the second by way of a sacrifice fly.
Scoring closed in the top of the ninth, as Albertus Magnus brought one final run across by way of an RBI single to bring the score to its eventual final of 7-3.
Jamison Rhoades took the mound for La Roche and tossed seven scoreless innings, allowing four hits, nine walks and struck out three. Even more impressive, Rhoades worked out of three separate bases loaded jams in his outing.
Samuel DiCicco came in to relieve Rhoades and threw two innings, allowing three unearned runs, two hits one walk and set down two.
Offensively, the Redhawks strung together 14 hits, with one player having three and four other players collecting two hits.
Gary (3-for-4) led the charge at the dish, while Jones, Snyder, Suarez (2-for-4) and Maffitt (2-for-5) all contributed multiple hits. Altogether, eight of the nine in the order picked up at least one hit.
La Roche is back on the field on Thursday, Mar. 13 for a rematch with Albertus Magnus. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.