TEXARKANA, Texas – The #14 Louisiana Christian University baseball team started fast, but one big offensive outburst had the Wildcats chasing until the ninth inning before falling on a walk-off hit, 7-6, as the Texas A&M-Texarkana Eagles avoided being swept by the Wildcats Saturday afternoon at George Dobson Field.
#14 Louisiana Christian (26-6, 11-4 RRAC) couldn't have asked for a much better start of the game.
Braden Trull started a one-out rally as he singled to right.
Matthew Cody then dropped a hit inside the left field line for a double which plated Trull. After moving to third on a wild pitch, Cody scored on
Drake Aldridge's ground ball to second base, giving the Wildcats a 2-0 lead after one.
With no response from Texas A&M-Texarkana (13-20, 4-11 RRAC) in the first, LCU extended the lead in the second as
Braden McLin,
Brady Huffman, and
Sterling Sims all hit singles in order to start the frame with McLin coming home from second on the hit by Sims for a 3-0 lead, though a double play would prevent the big inning which seemed to be brewing.
Aldridge added another tick to the Wildcat lead in the fourth inning as he blasted a solo home run with two outs, making it 4-0 LCU when the Wildcats took to the field.
But the bottom of the third inning got away from the Wildcats in a big way as the Eagles scored six runs in the frame, which included a grand slam in the middle of it, giving TAMUT a 6-4 lead through three complete.
Both teams settled in from there as the score remained that way all the way to the ninth inning.
Caleb Brown, Trull, and Cody all drew walks to start the top of the ninth, loading the bases with no outs. Aldridge got the Wildcats one run closer as he sent a fly ball to center deep enough to allow Brown to tag up and come home while Trull also moved to third. LCU then executed a perfect double steal as Cody took off for second, drawing a throw which allowed Trull to take off for home and score the tying run. The top of the inning ended 6-6.
But the Wildcats couldn't force extras as the Eagles came up in the bottom of the ninth and got back-to-back, two-strike base hits. After both runners moved up on a passed ball, LCU intentionally walked the batter to load the bases and set up a force at any bag. But that would not come into fruition as a base hit to left allowed the winning run to come home and TAMUT salvaged a game from the series.
Cody, McLin, and Huffman all had two hits in the contest.
Cody went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, was hit by a pitch, stole a base, knocked in a run, and scored once.
McLin was 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored.
Huffman was 2-for-3 with a walk.
Aldridge's one hit in three at bats was his fourth home run of the season, and second in as many games. He also drew a walk, drove in three runs, and scored once.
Trull was also 1-for-3 with two walks, stole a base, and scored twice.
Sims went 1-for-3 with a RBI.
Alan Mason (1-1) picked up the decision as he threw 1.2 innings and allowed three hits and one run, which was earned, with two strikeouts and no walks.
Owen Simoneaux started the game and went 2.1 innings, allowing five hits and six runs, all earned, with two walks and one strikeout.
Seth Whitney kept the Wildcats in the fight as he threw 4.0 scoreless innings, allowing three hits and no runs with two walks and five strikeouts.
Colton Williams faced just two batters, allowing an intentional walk and a hit as the game concluded.
The Wildcats step out of Red River Athletic Conference action on Wednesday as LCU heads to Lake Charles for a contest against NCAA Division I McNeese. First pitch of Wednesday's contest against the Cowboys (11-10) is set for 6 p.m. at Joe Miller Ballpark.
