PHOENIX, Ariz. - The Red Hawks baseball squad took two out of three from Nelson University (AZ) this weekend with a sweep on day two. 

Simpson drew first blood in game one as a sacrifice fly by Jackson Berry to push across Owen Hayes in the top of the second inning. 

But the Warriors countered with a two-run bottom half of the inning to take the 2-1 lead before breaking the game open for five runs in the fourth inning to take the 7-1 lead. 

Simpson chipped away and plated a pair of runs in the sixth and eighth innings to pull within two as Cayden Lee and Hayes combined for back-to-back big flies in the eighth. 

The Warriors hung on to the 7-5 game one victory with a clean ninth inning as Adrian Imperial earned the three-inning save by striking out the side in the ninth.

Game 2: 
Simpson broke out the bats on the second day of play as they plated 14 runs in the first four innings, as they plated multiple runs in the first three innings. 

The Red Hawks took advantage of a Warriors error in the top of the first inning as back-to-back RBI doubles by Brandon Zanni and Hayes gave the Red Hawks the 3-0 advantage before plating four more runs in the top of the second inning on two hits as three free bases and a Warrior error aided the Red Hawks' rally. 

But the Red Hawks broke the game open in the top of the third inning as they plated six runs on four hits, highlighted by a solo shot by Zion Palea, a two-run blast by Lee, and a two-run double by Mario Catalan. 

It proved to be more than enough run support for starter Daniel Aceto as he picked up his second win of the year. In 5.0 innings of work, he surrendered three runs on six hits while striking out five Warriors. 

Hayes led the Simpson bats in game two with a three-for-three performance that included a two-run blast and a double. 

Aden Munoz and Lee followed close behind with two-hit efforts to highlight the Red Hawks' 12-hit performance. 

Game 3: 
The Warriors took the early 2-0 lead in the second inning on a solo blast by Sam Hess and an RBI double by Josue Franco Jr. 

The Red Hawks responded in the top of the fourth inning as a double by Catalan helped set up an RBI single by Duke Aloy to get Simpson on the board, followed by a wild pitch to score Catalan to tie the game. 

Nelson reclaimed the lead as they plated three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning with the help of three Simpson miscues. 

Back-to-back three-run innings allowed the Red Hawks to take the 8-6 lead as Aloy posted two RBI knocks before Simpson reliever Nathan Palacioz preserved the 8-6 victory to take the series. 

Aloy and Catalan anchored the Simpson offense in game three as they each posted a three-hit performance while combining for four RBIs. 

Palacioz earned the win with 1.1 innings of scoreless work to pick up his second win of the season. 

Simpson looks to hit the road to SoCal as they take on the University of California, San Marcos this Thursday at 11 am. 
 

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