REDDING, Calif. - This weekend marked the first time the Simpson baseball team played on their much-awaited on-campus baseball field. 

It was a big day for the Simpson baseball team playing in front of their home crowd–in their actual home. Throughout the season, the Red Hawks needed to played their home games at different fields ranging from Shasta College to Laney College in Oakland. 

The home debut for the Red Hawks was delayed longer than wanted because of the unusual weather that hit Redding. Snowstorms to rain for weeks at a time paused any construction on the field. The Red Hawks finally caught a break in the weather, allowing for the needed construction to take place.

The Red Hawks put on a show for their fans in the opening game against Saint Katherine. Connor Caporale started the game for Simpson. Caporale pitched six innings with five strikeouts and two earned runs. 

Simpson scored three runs in the 1st inning, but the offense would remain quiet until the 7th inning. 

Logan Gomes blasted a go-ahead three-run homer. The first home run by a Red Hawk on the new field.

Simpson beat Saint Katherine 7-6 in game one.

In game two, Jaydon Tomas pitched five innings with seven strikeouts and two earned runs.

Saint Katherine’s offense struck first, scoring one run in the 1st inning. In the 6th inning, Saint Katherine hit back-to-back home runs cutting Simpson's lead to two. However, Tuli Taufahema led the Red Hawks, going 3-for-4 with a double and batting in five of Simpson's seven runs. 

The Red Hawks won game two by a final score of 7-3. 

In the third game, the Red Hawks' 10-run ruled Saint Katherine’s in the 7th inning. Eric Winchester pitched all seven innings, only allowing one run and three hits. In the second inning, Kade Kupihea tripled. Titus Sato scored Kupihea with a base hit. 

Simpson put up five runs in both the fourth and fifth inning. Max Lopez started the 4th inning with a solo home run to left field. Sato and Taufehema had a pair of singles scoring three more runs. Again Sato singled, scoring a run. Taufahema doubled, scoring three more runs. 

The Red Hawks closed out Saint Katherine 11-1 through seven innings, securing the series sweep. 

Simpson has now swept La Sierra and Saint Katherine in back-to-back weeks, improving their conference record to 8-10 as they fight for a spot in the playoffs.

The Red Hawks travel to Pasadena to play a big series against Providence Christian this Friday and Saturday.