While Warsaw baseball coach Mike Hepler was disappointed with his team's approach to Wednesday's game, those that were at Tiger Field cheering for the Northridge Raiders had to be ecstatic about the way their team started the game.
In a battle of teams sporting undefeated Northern Lakes Conference records, Northridge pounded out seven hits and scored five runs in the first inning Wednesday.The Raiders' quick start offensively, along with senior Lincoln Rassi's solid performance on the mound, led them to a 7-0 win over the Tigers.
"I was a little disappointed in our approach today," said Hepler, who's team's win streak was halted at six game games. "Northridge is a good, solid team. I told the team they had to come ready to play."
Northridge certainly came ready to play, and the end result was a 7-0 win that improved its overall record to 12-0 and its conference mark to 5-0.
Warsaw fell to 6-2 overall and 4-1 in NLC action.
"We talked a lot about not getting full of ourselves," said Hepler. "We have to come out here everyday and work hard. I told them, 'we're not going to come out here and win just because we've won a bunch of games in a row.' We're going to have to work for everything we get."
Rassi held the Tigers hitless until senior catcher Braden Kline hit a single in the fourth inning.
Warsaw's only other hit in the game was a double by junior Jacob Bloom in the seventh inning.
Rassi worked all seven innings for the Raiders. While he wasn't overpowering, Hepler was impressed with Rassi's command.
"He had good command, good presence," Hepler said of Rassi. "He never got in trouble."
The same can't be said for Warsaw junior Chase Byerly, who struck out two in the first inning.
While Cody Troyer and Rassi struck out in the first, the Raiders sent 10 batters to the plate in the first inning, pounding out six singles in a double.
Northridge finished the game with 14 hits.
Luke Hofsommer, Kyle Bachman and Gatlin Rassi all had three hits for the Raiders, while Dustin Petersen pounded out two hits for the winners.
After scoring five runs in the first inning, the Raiders added a run in the second and one more in the fourth.
The Tigers are in action again Friday at Concord.
NORTHRIDGE 7, WARSAW 0
N 510 100 0 - 7
W 000 000 0 - 0
Lincoln Rassi (W) and Luke Hofsommer; Chase Byerly (L, 2-1), Josh Miller (2), James Miglin (4) and Braden Kline.
