Augusta, Ga. - Johnson & Wales defeated Paine College 8-7 in the finale of their three game weekend series on Satuday. The Lions won Friday's doubleheader by scores of 22-11 and 14-0.
Jayden and
Sami Nezaj each singled to lead off the first inning, and then scored on
Aiden Santos's double two batters later. The Wildcats added a run in the second on
Logan Howland's first collegiate home run. Paine trimmed the JWU lead to one, scoring two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning.
Dev Hernandez restored the three run advantage in the fifth, as he singled home Santos and
Jordan Brown. The Lions evened matters in the bottom of the inning as Pablo Rivera singled home two runs.
The Wildcats plated two runs in the eighth on consecutive hits from Fernandez and Santos. Paine scored once in the eighth to get within one.
Nick Jiminian's single in the ninth added an important insurance run as Paine plated one in the bottom of the frame.
Santos went 4-5 at the plate, driving in three.
Jayden Nezaj had three hits, while Jiminian had his fist multi-hit college game.
Marco Fernandez had five hits over the course of the weekend, including his team-leading seventh and eighth home runs.
Zach Carson pitched 4.1 innings in relief to earn the win. He allowed just four hits and two earned runs while striking out a pair.
The Wildcats continue their road swing as they head to Greensboro, N.C. to take on Guilford on Tuesday, 4/14. First pitch is set for 3:00pm.
