Bluejays have pair of baseball victories thus far on Arizona trip

The Minnesota West baseball team is in the midst of its week-long trip to Arizona, where it will continue to play through Saturday.

The Bluejays had a record of 3-6 through Tuesday's games. In Tuesday action, Minnesota West was nipped 4-3 in seven innings by the Wheaton College junior varsity. Later that same day, the Bluejays captured a 16-6, five-inning triumph over ATHX Academy.

In Tuesday's victory, Minnesota West scored seven runs in the fourth inning to break the game wide open. Ales Zhao had a single, double and four RBIs to pace the team offensively, while Eliecer Gonzalez doubled and drove in three runs and Bryker Smith had a single, triple and RBI. Noah Garcia tossed the first four innings on the mound to get the pitching win.

The Bluejays played one game Monday against Miles Community College, falling 14-0. On Sunday, they took on Williston State College in two seven-inning matchups, winning the first 3-2 and losing the second 4-3. In the win, starting pitcher Tucker Brandner struck out eight batters in five innings while allowing four hits and one earned run. Johan Mendoza had a pair of hits.

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The Lady Jays are set to face eighth-seeded Onondaga Community College at noon Thursday in their first game of the NJCAA Division 3 Women's Basketball Tournament following Onondaga's 72-55 Wednesday win over Bronx Community College.

Lazers standout post player Jada Crocker made 13-of-19 shots from the floor, scoring 28 points, and also grabbed eight rebounds. Onondaga is now 24-4 overall. Minnesota West is ranked No. 1 in the nation and is the tournament's top seed.