Pride shutout No. 23 Benedictine Mesa to earn seventh-straight win

MESA, Ariz. - Following a pair of games where they allowed just one run to their opponents, the Clarke University baseball team tossed a shutout on Tuesday afternoon in a 2-0 win over No. 23 Benedictine University Mesa in Mesa, Ariz.

The Pride continue their streak of strong starting pitching performances as this time is was Johnny Blake's quality start with the sophomore from Dubuque allowing only three hits and three walks over six shutout innings with seven strikeouts over his 92 pitches.

Greg Bennett and Isaac Rohde entered in relief to combine for the final three innings as they only gave up three hits and walked none while Rohde finished with three punchouts.

CU's offense put up a timely two-run third innings, jumping out in front with a leadoff walk, stolen base, error, and sacrifice fly from Bubba Thompson followed by a Bryce Hinton RBI double as that would prove to be all the the Pride needed offensively on the day.

Clarke baseball will return home for a short rest before returning to the road to start Heart of America Athletic Conference play this weekend when they travel to Baldwin City, Kan. for a four-game series against Baker University with both Saturday's and Sunday's doubleheaders scheduled to start at 11:00 a.m. CT.