Ben U Walks Off Warriors

By Brandon Petersen

Sometimes all you can do is tip your cap. 

The Warriors played inspired baseball Wednesday evening at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, AZ, but in the end, Ben U was just a little bit better and took home the 10-9 win in walk-off fashion.

The Dubs shocked Ben U with a six-run fourth in which they batted around after the Redhawks took an early 4-0 lead. 

Westcliff starter Eddie Rios was nailed with a line drive in the third inning and came out of the contest. 

Steven Hayden took over in long relief and was fantastic, allowing just one earned run in two and a third innings of work. 

But the Redhawks retook the lead in the fifth, going up 7-6, a score that remained until the eighth, when Eddie Rivero hit a clutch, bases-clearing triple to give the Warriors a 9-7 advantage. 

After scrapping all day, Rivero was the right guy in the right spot to deliver the clutch knock. 

"He missed a few barrels that he was really close on throughout the game," Westcliff skipper Dylan Hoffman said. "That was just the calm before the storm — we knew it was going to come. 

"That's why we have him at leadoff — that's why he's the heart and soul of the team."

Unfortunately for Rivero and the Warriors, the clutch knock would not hold up, as Ben U scored one in the home half to cut the deficit to one. 

Oliver Davies provided the game-winner for Ben U in the ninth when he singled to right. 

It was a gut-punch for the Warriors, who were playing at a double disadvantage — Ben U, as the top seed, received a morning bye and watched the Warriors dispatch Park from the comfort of their hometown bleachers. 

Nevertheless, the Warriors proved up to the task and went toe-to-toe with the tournament favorites, and as Hoffman put it afterward, no one wants to play Westcliff right now. 

"We're just going to have to keep fighting," Hoffman said. "Every pitch. Every inning. These guys are hungry, and I promise you there are a lot of teams who are scared to play us right now. 

"We got hot at the right time, there's a lot of good competition in this tournament, but I like where our cards are right now."

The biggest problem Westcliff faces moving forward is not the loss, which can be overcome, but the load the Warriors have already placed on their pitching staff. 

All three of their top pitchers have thrown extended innings, with Kyle Douphner pitching twice Wednesday alone. If Rios can bounce back, however, that could be an ace up the Warriors' sleeve. 

Needless to say, the bats are going to have to remain hot, and some unsung pitchers on the staff are going to have to step into the hero role if the Warriors are going to have a shot at Ben U again. 

Simpson and Park both lost in the first round and are playing an elimination contest currently. 

Westcliff will play the winner Thursday at 2:30 in their own elimination contest. 

Meanwhile, Ben U and Embry-Riddle will do battle in the winner's bracket and the loser of that contest will play the winner of Westcliff vs. Park/Simpson in an elimination contest Thursday evening. 

Friday's championship will feature either Ben U and ERAU and whoever claws out of the loser's bracket. 

Whoever comes out of the winner's bracket will have to be beaten twice on Friday to be denied the crown. 

Westcliff has a tough task ahead, but as was said in the dugout following the Ben U walk-off, the Warriors have played best all season with their backs against the wall. 

It's do-or-die time from here on out.