Jose Briseno – USU Eastern Assistant SID

Photo courtesy of Dallin Grant

The Utah State Eastern Eagles invited community fans to Ernie Gardner Field for their season’s first home game, hosting the Community Christian College Saints for a three-game series.

The Eagles opened game one with a slow start offensively. After just two runs in the first four innings, the Eagles exploded for eight combined runs in the fifth and sixth innings. A two-run double by Jake Lindsay gave the Eagles the 10-0 run-rule victory. Gage Tane was excellent on the mound for Eastern, tossing a six-inning complete game shutout.

The second game of the day was a close contest for most of it. With the score at 3-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, Eastern scored five runs to solidify the 8-2 win. Jake Lindsay had four RBIs on a 2-3 day at the plate. Konner Candalot tossed a complete game, recording nine strikeouts in the contest.

With a chance to sweep their second series of the season, the Eagles scored six runs in the first inning of game three. Makaio Swensen hit a two-run home run to extend Eastern’s lead in the third inning, and in the bottom of the sixth, back-to-back hits by Stockton Mathis and Conner Hall led to a 13-3 victory via run rule. Makaio Swensen and Stockton Mathis each went 2-4 with 4 RBIs in the game. Dagen Gammell tossed the third Eastern complete game of the series with nine strikeouts in six innings.

Next for the Eagles is a four-game series against the Treasure Valley Community College Chukars. Fresh off three games to start the weekend, the Eagles will play tomorrow and Monday, with doubleheaders on both days. Games tomorrow start at 12:00 p.m.