AUBURNDALE, Fla. — Dickinson State cut into an early deficit with runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, but Judson used a nine-run fifth inning to pull away for a 16-6 win over the Blue Hawks on Sunday in Florida. Dickinson State moved to 9-10 on the season. Judson improved to 12-4.
Judson broke a scoreless game open in the third. After two runners reached and both moved into scoring position on steals, Flores hit a four-run home run to center field to give Judson a 4-0 lead. Judson added two more runs in the fourth, both unearned, to push the margin to 6-0.
Dickinson State answered in the bottom of the fourth. Luis Rodriguez singled to start the inning, Jace Buchanan drew a walk, and Wyatt Wilharm brought home the Blue Hawks' first run with an RBI single. Later in the inning, Ramon Teran added an RBI single to score Buchanan and cut the deficit to 6-2.
Judson's decisive inning came in the fifth. Dickinson State turned to Collin Fortier in relief, and Judson scored nine times on seven hits. The inning included run-scoring hits from Trinidad, Cintron, Wickett, Flores and Acevedo. Only three of the nine runs were earned as the inning also included errors by the Blue Hawks. The surge gave Judson a 15-2 advantage.
Dickinson State continued to compete offensively. In the fifth, Jadyn Roberts walked and later scored on Ty Farwell's RBI single to make it 15-3. In the sixth, Teran singled, Kadin Finders was hit by a pitch, and Jaden Salazar delivered a two-run double to right field. Rodriguez then drove in Salazar on a fielder's choice to cap a three-run frame and pull Dickinson State within 15-6.
The Blue Hawks had a chance to add more in the seventh after Wilharm doubled with one out, but Judson retired the next two hitters to end the threat. Judson added its final run in the eighth on Navarro's RBI single.
Wilharm finished 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI for Dickinson State. Teran also went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base. Rodriguez scored once, drove in one run and added a steal. Salazar provided two RBIs off the bench, while Buchanan reached base three times on walks and scored once. Roberts scored once, singled and walked twice. Farwell added an RBI single.
Dominic Phillips took the loss for Dickinson State and fell to 0-3 after allowing six runs, four earned, over four innings. Fortier allowed nine runs, though none were earned, in two innings. Tyler Cutler tossed a scoreless seventh, and Jerry Santiago Jr. worked the eighth. Judson's Devin Schular earned the win and improved to 2-0 after allowing three runs over five innings.
Dickinson State finished with eight hits and five walks but left seven runners on base. Judson totaled 15 hits and took advantage of three Blue Hawk errors. Flores led Judson with five RBIs, while Acevedo had four hits and Wickett drove in three.
