TURLOCK — The offense managed to scratch across just enough runs and the pitchers were able to continuously get out of trouble as the Stanislaus State baseball team blanked Holy Names twice on Monday.
The 2-0 and 1-0 wins by Stanislaus completed the four-game series sweep over the Holy Names Hawks as the Warriors begin the 2017 season 7-1 — the best start since 2011 when they began 9-1.
John Holleran went 3-for-3 and three Warrior pitchers —
Ryan Paramo,
Ian Chandler and
Nick Voumard — combined for a six-hit shutout for the game one win. In the nightcap, a
Cody Kruip sac fly accounted for the lone run of the game and three more pitchers —
Stewart Alexander,
Jarrett Veiga and Voumard — blanked the Hawks by limiting them to four hits.
Voumard picked up two more saves on the day, increasing his season total to five out of five opportunities.
In the first game, Holleran scored in the second on a safely squeeze by
Ethan Utler to make it 1-0. Holleran then singled in
Charlie Gaff in the sixth for all of the scoring.
On the flip side, Holy Names left seven runners in scoring position in each game and left 21 runners on base in the doubleheader.
Paramo was able to get out of jams a few times, including twice with a Hawk on third base. Voumard allowed baserunners to reach second and third before getting a grounder and a fouled out to end game one. Paramo threw six innings and gave up five hits while striking out seven in his start to improve to 2-0.
In the second game, Alexander left Hawks on third base twice in the first three innings. Then Veiga escaped trouble in the two innings he pitched in. In the seventh, HNU worked the bases loaded against Voumard before the closer getting a sharp liner to Holleran at second to end the night. Alexander, who didn't find out he was getting the start until Monday's batting practice, struck out five and allowed two hits in four innings for his first victory as a Warrior.
The Warriors will have a chance to better the 7-1 start with a three-game series against Simpson next weekend on home field. The first games are scheduled as a doubleheader on Saturday, weather permitting.
