BING! Chandler Pops Pair of Homers in Chargers’ Sweep at Highland
Aaron Frey
Monday, April 15, 2019 9:12 AM
Athletics
Freeport, IL
The Carl Sandburg College baseball team remained unbeaten in Arrowhead Conference action with a pair of blowout wins at Highland on Saturday afternoon. The reigning league champion Chargers improved to 15-8-1 overall and 8-0 against Arrowhead opponents.
GAME 1
Sandburg 16, Highland 6 (5 innings)
Sandburg 1(12)2 10 — 16 14 0
Highland 021 12 — 6 11 1
W: Jackson Porter 5 IP, 6 K, 2 BB
L: Raymond Vogel 1.2 IP, 0 K, 4 BB
Key Moment
The Chargers erupted for 12 runs in the second inning to go up 13-0. Sandburg sent 15 batters to the plate, collecting six hits, four walks and a pair of hit batsmen. Braedon Blackford (Peoria, Ill./Notre Dame), the reigning NJCAA Division II Player of the Week, delivered the big blow, a three-run home run to cap the outburst.
Sandburg Standout
Blackford was one of six Chargers with multiple hits, finishing 2 for 3 with a walk, two runs scored and three RBIs.
Other Top Chargers
- Hunter Darst (Avon, Ill./Abingdon-Avon) 3 for 4, two runs, two RBIs
- Jordan Chandler (Erie, Ill./Erie) 2 for 3, triple, walk, three runs, stolen base
- Cacey O’Brien (Moline, Ill./Moline) 2 for 3, walk, run, two RBIs
- Devon Ballard (Fulton, Ill./Fulton) 2 for 3, walk, three runs
- Noah Hoepfner (East Moline, Ill./United Township) 2 for 2, double, two runs, two RBIs
GAME 2
Sandburg 13, Highland 1 (5 innings)
Sandburg 254 02 — 13 11 0
Highland 001 00 — 1 4 2
W: Nolan Struhs 5 IP, 8 K, 4 BB
L: Cameron Timm 2 IP 1 K, 1 BB
Key Moment
O’Brien got the Chargers on the board with a two-run homer in the first inning. Sandburg went on to add five in the second and four in the third to open up an 11-0 lead.
Sandburg Standout
Chandler popped a pair of homers, finishing 3 for 4 with three runs and three RBIs. The sophomore third baseman hit a two-run shot to right-center in the second and added a solo blast in the fifth. For the afternoon, Chandler went 5 for 7 with a triple, two homers, a walk, six runs scored, three RBIs and a stolen base.
Other Top Chargers
- Hoepfner 2 for 4, run, two RBIs
- Koy Smith (Revere, Mo./Canton) 2 for 3, two runs, RBI, stolen base
- Nolan Struhs (Avon, Ill./Abingdon-Avon) complete game, one run allowed, four hits, eight strikeouts, four walks
UP NEXT
The Chargers finish their series against Highland at 2 p.m. Tuesday at home.
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