VERO BEACH, FLA. – The Apprentice School baseball team erupted on Saturday for 19 runs, scoring in every inning but two, as they defeated Northwestern College (MN) 19-9 in their first game Saturday at Holman Stadium as part of the USCAA Spring Invitational.
Each team scored a pair of runs in the first inning, with the Builders tying the game courtesy of no hits in their half of the first inning. After giving up another two-spot in the top of the second, the Builders pushed three across in their half of the second. Chris Scarola started the inning with a double and advanced on a groundout before scoring on a passed ball. Following a walk and a hit batter, Ryan Hendrickson then drove in a pair with a double to put the Builders up 5-4.
After no scoring in the third, Northwestern College (4-1) scratched a run in its half of the fourth which the Builders answered on a Travis Franklin double which scored Chris Aldridge who started the inning with a single.
Apprentice School (4-5) broke the game open in the fifth as they scored seven runs. Run scoring hits from Aldridge, Trevin Wilson and Andrew Hooper along with an error helped push the Builders lead to 13-5. Franklin drove in a pair in the sixth as the Builders scored three in the sixth and in the seventh to take a 19-7 lead.
Aldridge was 3-for-4 with a school-record tying five runs scored and drove in three to lead a 12-hit attack for the Builders. Franklin was 2-for-3 with three runs and three RBI while Hendrickson, Hooper and Wilson drove in a pair each. Chris Perry earned the win with six innings pitched and six strikeouts.
The Builders will close out their schedule on Saturday with a scheduled 4 pm start against Bridgewater State University (Mass).