SAINT LEO, Fla. – Behind an offensive explosion and an excellent pitching performance from Zac Grotz, the NAIA 18^th ranked Embry-Riddle baseball team picked up a huge 11-1 road win over NCAA II No. 12 Saint Leo on Tuesday night.  The Eagles got redemption for their 6-4 loss to the Lions back in February and improved their record to 22-12 on the year while SLU dropped to 24-6.
 
ERAU's offensive onslaught began in the third inning when a Matt Jacobs left field single drove in Cody Bogart from third base to plate the Eagles' first run of the evening.  Jacobs then stole second and third before Saint Leo pitcher Robbie Cook, who was making his first start of the season, walked both Kyle Buchanan and Hunter Bruehl, causing an early pitching change for the Lions.  Dylan Collett replaced Cook on the mound to face Kyle Zirbes who ripped a 2-2 pitch to right field that drove in both Jacobs and Buchanan, giving ERAU an early 3-0 lead.
 
The Blue and Gold loaded the bags again in the second, but Liam Goodall struck out looking to end top of the inning.  However, Goodall redeemed himself with his defense in the bottom half of the inning.  With one runner on in the bottom of the frame, Lion centerfielder Cole Stancil crushed a Grotz pitch to deep left field, but Goodall made a spectacular, leaping grab with his glove over the fence to prevent a homerun and preserve the Eagles' three-run lead.
 
Both teams went down 1-2-3 in the third, but the Eagle bats came alive big-time in the fourth.  After a consecutive singles from Buchanan and Bruehl to start the inning, Saint Leo made another pitching change, bringing in Eoin McAvinchey.  McAvinchey's night started off poorly as his first pitch hit Zirbes to load the bases.  The righty's second pitch was blooped into right field by Tobias Moreno, scoring Buchanan and Bruehl to put the Eagles up 5-0.  The next batter, Jake Cavender, then reached safely on a bunt, which set up another bases loaded situation for Goodall.
 
The Canadian would come through this time.
 
After fouling off two pitches, Goodall sent a 1-2 pitch way over the left field wall for a grand slam, giving the junior a team-best 30 RBIs this season, and more importantly giving the Eagles a 9-0 lead.  Goodall has now scored at least one run in each of his last five games. 
 
ERAU scored two more insurance runs as the game continued.  An RBI single from Cavender drove in Zirbes in the fifth, while Buchanan drove in Jacobs with a single to centerfield in the sixth.
 
Grotz pitched a spectacular game for the Blue and Gold as he was nearly unhittable, giving up just one hit in six shut-out-innings of work.  The senior struck out three batters and only allowed five of the 23 lions he faced to reach base safely as he improved his record to 6-1 on the season.
 
Stetson Nelson also had a solid outing as he pitched two shutout innings and had three strikeouts.
 
Saint Leo's sole run of the night came with two outs in the bottom of the ninth when Nick Borland hit a solo homerun over the right field wall off of Clayton Wagner. 
 
Overall, Embry-Riddle had six different players drive in runs against Saint Leo with Goodall leading the way with 4 RBIs.
 
Up next for the Eagles is a weekend road series against Sun Conference foe Thomas.  The first game of the series will take place on Friday at 3 p.m., followed by a doubleheader beginning at noon on Saturday.