Delgado downs BRCC, Nunez at Region XXIII tourney Thursday

The @delgadodolphins open the Region XXIII Tournament with a 3-0 win over @BRCC_Baseball. Luke Barbier (@lukebarbier2) struck out 7 and allowed just 2 hits in the win. @WGNOtv @WGNOsports @FNFwgno pic.twitter.com/1S97JAMby5

— Richie Mills (@richiemills) May 2, 2024

Delgado swept Baton Rouge Community College 3-0 and Nunez Community College 9-5 Thursday in the opening round of the 2024 NJCAA Region XXIII Division I Tournament at Kirsch-Rooney Stadium.

In Delgado’s first game, an RBI single by Jack Walker plated Walker Bazile for the game’s first run in the fifth inning. Two additional Delgado runs came on sacrifice fly balls by Logan O’Neill and Giovanni Licciardi in the eighth enroute to the Dolphins’ 3-0 win over Baton Rouge.

Delgado starter Luke Barbier went the distance, pitching a nine inning, two hit shutout of the Bears. Barbier walked two and struck out eight while facing only four batters above the minimum and retiring fifteen straight batters between the fourth and eighth innings.

With the loss, Baton Rouge was eliminated from the tournament after falling to Nunez 11-3 in the tournament’s opening game.

The @delgadodolphins are 1 win away from their 14th straight Region XXIII tournament title after a 9-5 win over @NunezCCBaseball. Pels battled but the Fins prevailed. Nunez can force a game 3 with a win in the rematch Friday at 2 p.m. @WGNOtv @WGNOsports @FNFwgno @NJCAA pic.twitter.com/Oo1ozT7byL

— Richie Mills (@richiemills) May 3, 2024

In the nightcap, Delgado took a 2-0 lead in the first on a fielder’s choice and error.

Nunez took a 3-2 lead with three runs on three hits and a Delgado throwing error in the fifth. Josh Eames’ sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth tied the game before a two run double by Christian Westcott gave the Dolphins the lead.

The Pelicans answered with two runs in the sixth following a sacrifice fly and RBI single in the sixth. Back-to-back RBI singles by Delgado’s Eli Booth and Josh Eames gave Delgado two additional runs in the sixth.

Eames also singled in the eighth to score Jack Walker for Delgado’s ninth and final run in the Dolphins’ 9-5 win over Nunez. Michael Hotard picked up the win, pitching into the sixth with Morgan Sauber and Remy Marsh appearing in relief.

With the wins, Delgado (37-14) secures a berth in the NJCAA South District Championship next week in Oxford, Alabama.

Delgado and Nunez will meet at 2pm Friday in the championship round of the Region XXIII Tournament. A Nunez win would force an if necessary Saturday at 2pm.