TUCSON, Ariz.  (uj.edu)  — Kensaku Akiya (JR/Kawasaki, Japan) scattered five hits over seven innings and allowed just one run as the University of Jamestown baseball team defeated Gustavus Adolphus (Minn.) 2-1 to split a doubleheader Sunday at the Tucson Invitational Games.

Matt Meraz (JR/Aurora, CO) broke a 1-all tie with an RBI single in the top of the sixth, scoring Tanner Roundy (SR/Henderson, NV) with the go-ahead run.

Akiya retired six of the final seven hitters he faced to record his first win as a Jimmie. The right-hander struck out three and did not walk a batter.

Meraz finished 2-for-2 while Drake Pilat (SR/Winnipeg, MB, Canada), Lincoln Trujillo (JR/Cheyenne, WY), Tanner Roundy, and Jared Bentley (JR/Washougal, WA) also picked up hits.

In Sunday’s opener, Gustavus Adolphus rallied from a 10-1 deficit, scoring 10 times in the top of the seventh for an 11-10 win.

Meraz drove in two runs with a single as the Jimmies put up five runs in the bottom of the first. Pilat, Roundy, and Zach Zurbrugg (SR/Bremerton, WA) also drove in runs during the inning.

Kaleb Binstock (SR/Grand Forks, ND) singled in the bottom of the fifth to make it 9-1, then Trujillo followed with an RBI single of his own for a 10-1 UJ lead.

Dakota Nelson (SR/Dallas, OR) worked six strong innings, allowing one run on four hits. He walked three and struck out three.

In the top of the seventh, Gustavus Adolphus went through the order, pushing home six runs and loading the bases before Jamestown recorded the first out of the inning. The Jimmies managed a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh but could not get the tying run across.

Binstock finished 3-for-3 while Trujillo and Grant Okawa (JR/Mississauga, ON) both had a pair of hits.

Monday Jamestown will play No. 7 Antelope Valley (Calif.) at 4:00 p.m. and Arizona Christian at 7:30 p.m.

Monday…

TUCSON, Ariz.— The University of Jamestown baseball team rallied for two runs in the bottom of the eighth on the way to a 5-3 win over No. 7 Antelope Valley (Calif.) on Monday.

Tanner Roundy (SR/Henderson, NV)’s sacrifice fly brought home Nick Wrigg (JR/Helena, MT) with the go-ahead run, then Kaleb Binstock (SR/Grand Forks, ND) scored an important insurance run to give UJ a two-run cushion heading to the ninth.

Jamestown trailed 3-0 in the sixth before Cameron Martin (JR/Seattle, WA) drove in Grant Okawa (JR/Mississauga, ON) with a sacrifice fly, then Roundy followed with a two-run single to tie the game.

Dru Fitz (JR/Gresham, OR) worked the first six innings on the mound but did not figure in the decision. He allowed three runs on eight hits and struck out three. Andrew Reed (JR/Woodinville, WA) was credited with the win, striking out four in 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Drake Pilat (SR/Winnipeg, MB, Canada) had two of the Jimmies’ seven hits in the game.

In Monday’s second game, UJ led Arizona Christian 4-1 after three innings before the Firestorm broke through with a six-run fourth. ACU held on for an 8-6 victory.

Lincoln Trujillo (JR/Cheyenne, WY), Jaden Yackley (SR/Lynnwood, Wash.), and Drake Pilat all doubled and Grant Okawa added a two-run triple, finishing with three RBI in all. Tanner Roundy racked up three stolen bases while Trujillo stole another.

On Tuesday, Benedictine-Mesa (Ariz.) scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth to take a 4-3 victory.

Jaden Yackley and Matt Meraz (JR/Aurora, CO) each had first-inning RBI as UJ took a 2-0 lead. Grant Okawa‘s double made it 3-0 in the third, and the score stayed that way until Benedictine-Mesa scored twice in the bottom of the fifth, then tied the game in the seventh.

Yackley and Zach Zurbrugg (SR/Bremerton, WA) both had two hits each. Tanner Roundy scattered nine hits over 5 2/3 innings in his first start of the season, giving up only two runs while striking out six.

Jamestown has an off day Wednesday before returning to action on Thursday with a doubleheader against Waldorf (Iowa) at 10:00 a.m. Central.