St. Louis walks off Seneca to sweep the Sting

By: William Shoukri
Humber Athletics Communications

ETOBICOKE - The Humber bats and pitching were the story tonight as the Hawks blew out the Seneca Sting (1-8, 10th West) 12-4 in the first game and the second game 4-3 in extra innings. Freshman pitcher Juan Diego Lagune finished with seven strikeouts while only allowing five hits through four innings. Ryan Brodie throws nine K's through five innings, only allowing two hits. Hudson Lockwood led the Hawks at the dish, recording three RBIs and scoring twice.

Game One (Humber 12, Seneca 4)

Starting pitcher Juan Diego Lagune came out of the gates hot, retiring the first three batters with two flyouts and a strikeout. Once Humber got on offence, lead-off hitter Hudson Lockwood was walked and Ryan Brodie singled to left field. With runners on one and two, Seneca would complete a double play, throwing out Ryan Brodie and Justin Groves. Lockwood would advance to third on the play, he would score on a passed ball making it 1-0 Humber early on. Humber would fail to convert with the bases loaded and two outs, ending the inning at 1-0.

Lagune stayed hot in the second, getting the lead-off hitter thrown out at first and striking out the next two batters to send Humber to the dish. Humber validates Lagune's effort, with Tyrus Bath scoring off a Ryan Brodie fly ball putting Humber up 2-0.

With the Hawks back on defence in the third, Lagune kept stumping Seneca from the mound, this time striking out the first three batters consecutively ending the inning quickly. The first-year pitcher had seven K's on the night. Aiden Murphy led off for the Hawks, singling to right field. Humber got another man on base before a Xavier Whittle outfield fly lets Murphy score from third to make it 3-0 Humber. Senecas offence finally woke up at the top of the fourth, loading the bases with one out. Designated hitter Gabe Bourgeois is hit by a pitch, allowing Gabe McCullough to score. With the bases still loaded, catcher Eric Baker smashes a triple to center field, driving home three runs to put Seneca up one, 4-3. Luckily, Lagune would stay composed. Ending the inning with a fly out and a strikeout, his seventh of the game.

Humber came out on offence and supported their pitcher with Caleb Eguren singling deep to left field. With the dugout buzzing, Lockwood stepped up to the dish. Not bothered by the pressure, the third-year outfielder hit an RBI single to left field, scoring Eguren. With the game now tied 4-4, Justin Groves would score off an Aiden Murphy RBI double to give Humber the lead back. Murphy would score shortly later off an error to make it 6-4 Hawks. Pitcher Ronan Hayes comes in to relieve Lagune. Humber's defence dialled in at the top of the fifth, sending the Sting back on defence with two great plays at first and a strikeout from Hayes. The inning ends 6-4 Humber as they fail to convert on offence. Hayes shuts down the Sting in the sixth, striking out two batters to end the half 6-4. This is when Humber's bats would come out in full swing. With Daniel Paolini coming in for Seneca, Justin Groves leads off, doubling deep to left field. Groves steals third and then home off a catcher error and Seneca was unable recover. Humber started to light up the defence with Caleb Eguren hitting a 2 RBI single, scoring Whittle and Jack St. Louis. With Eguren and Bath on base, Hudson Lockwood smashes a 2 RBI triple, ending the inning 12-4 for the Hawks. Lockwood would score once again off a Ryan Brodie RBI. Star pitcher Brandon Deans would come in to close for the seventh inning. After giving up a hit to the lead-off hitter, he would strike the next three batters out consecutively, sealing the 13-4 win for Humber.

Game Two (Humber 4, Seneca 3 - 8 innings)

Ryan Brodie got the nod from game two after an impressive offensive outing in the first game that included two RBI's. With help from a Brodie strikeout, the Humber defence would come up clutch, with Xavier Whittle making two great plays on first base to end the half scoreless.

Senecas' defence came to play after giving the Hawks multiple free runs in the first game. The outfielders got two outs by making two great grabs right away before first year pitcher Cole Devine struck out Xavier Whittle, ending the inning 0-0.

Starting the second inning, with one out and a batter on third, Seneca would score, going up by one. Brodie stayed calm though, striking out AJ Rowe to end the inning. Senecas defence held strong though, picking off catcher Jack Young at first to end the inning.

After starting the inning with a ground out and pop up, Seneca would finally find the gap, with Haven Tai singling deep to left field.  Once again though, Brodie would keep his composure and strike out the last batter to end the inning. Devine stayed stingy as well, not letting a Humber bat get on base through three innings. Going into the Brodie came up clutch, striking out three batters to keep Humber within one.

With the Hawks bench starting to lose energy, left fielder Justin Groves crushed a triple deep to left field, getting the boys buzzing. Groves would score soon after thanks to an Aiden Murphy sacrifice fly, stamping home with conviction. Seneca would end the inning after Dylan White flew out to right field. 

Brodie stayed blazing on the mound, striking out all three batters right away. The Peterborough native had 9 K's through five innings. With the game tied 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth, Humber looked to take the lead with centerfielder Jack Young stepping up to the dish. Young is walked and steals second right after. Eguren was hit by a pitch and advanced to first. Both runners advanced on stolen bases, leaving Hudson Lockwood looking at runners on second and third. Lockwood is walked to load the bases for Humber. With one out and the bases loaded, Caleb Eguren would score off a sacrifice fly from David Boatto.

Brodie would return to the mound in the sixth inning, allowing only one hit in the game. Unfortunately, the Humber defence couldn't convert for him, giving up an unearned run late in the sixth inning. First year Mark Rizzotto would come in to relieve Brodie with the game tied 2-2. Rizzotto would come up clutch, striking out the last batter to end the inning.

At the bottom of the sixth, with runners on first and second, Seneca made a pitching change, bringing in Raphael Ignacio. After walking Jack Young to load the bases, the inning ended with a Jack St. Louis flyout.

The seventh inning came and went, with Humber having multiple opportunities but unable to convert.

In extra innings now, Seneca would score in the top of the eighth thanks to another defensive lapse from the Hawks. Humber would tie the game at three thanks to a huge sacrifice fly from Dylan White. With the dugout getting rowdy and the bases loaded, Jack St. Louis stepped up to the plate. St. Louis would crush an RBI single to win Humber the game 4-3. Aiden Murphy scored the winning run.

Humber Highlights

• Senior Aidan Murphy needs nine more RBIs to move into first all-time at Humber.
• Juan Diego Lagune leads the OCAA with 20 strikeouts and two wins.
• The Hawks improve to 32-5 all-time against Seneca.
• Ryan Brodie finished with a career-high nine strikeouts.
• Mark Rizzotto recorded his career OCAA victory.

What's Next?

The Hawks will conclude their four-game homestand on October 1 with a doubleheader against Lambton (5-3, 5th OCAA). First pitch is set for 1 pm and will be streamed live on the Hawks Sports Network.