LSU Alexandria, Eagles split doubleheader
Colton Perfect hit the game-winning drive, a single, in the bottom of the sixth frame to score George Gugino and break the knot, giving Texas A&M University-Texarkana the lead, and ultimately the win, over LSU Alexandria in the first of two games, 3-2, at George Dobson Field in Spring Lake Park on Saturday afternoon.
Perfect led the Eagle’s with three singles, two RBI, and a run scored. Bronson Butcher hit in Texas A&M’s other run on a single in the bottom of the fifth.
The Generals took the lead in the opening inning when Blake Garrett hit a single to bring Bryce Laird home.
In the second inning Cade Thomason scored for the Eagles on a fielder’s choice after Perfect hit a bunt single along the left foul line.
Jesse Fruge smashed a double in the next stanza allowing Laird to score again and to take back the lead. 2-1 to LSU Alexandria.
Butcher knotted it up in the fifth, scoring Perfect, and Perfect finished things off in the sixth, scoring Gugino.
Rogers took the win on the mound and bettered his record to 5-0. Caleb Baker, who took over in the final inning, claimed his third save.
LSU Alexandria 101 000 0 — 2 91 A&M-Texarkana 010 011 x — 3 10 1 Hendry Rodriguez and Ben Bayless. Evan Rogers, Caleb Baker (7) and Bronson Butcher. WP-Rogers. LP-Rodriguez.
Game 2
LSU Alexandria 11, A&M-Texarkana 10
Texas A&M Texarkana was defeated in its second game against LSU Alexandria.
The Eagles’ had two on with two outs in the bottom of the ninth when an unassisted tag-out by Ziggy Sloan ended the game.
Pitching was the decisive factor in this contest as Texas A&M was victim to eight strikeouts and was unable to find any rhythm on the mound, going through six pitchers in nine innings.
“During the first game we pitched it well enough,” Eagles head coach Steve Jones said. “We stayed in the game and did what we needed to at the end. In the second game our pitching was horrible.”
Blake Garrett led LSU Alexandria with a single and a 2 RBI home run in the fifth inning.
When the fourth inning started Texas A&M Texarkana trailed 6-0. When the inning ended they led 9-0. George Gugino and Tye Holliday started the rally with a single each. Chase Beebe knocked a two RBI double to right field to earn the first two runs. Joe Pearlman added a single and then LT Hawkins hit a grand slam.
Garrett answered for the Generals in the fifth with a run to cut the lead to two. In the following inning Bryce Laird hit a sacrifice fly and Garrett smashed his homer
for three more; 10-9 LSU Alexandria.
“Our guys did a good job of fighting back because we had zeros on both sides and we just didn’t have good consistent innings,” coach Jones said. “But we can’t come out and pitch it like that and expect to come back and win.”
Ty Desormeaux extended the General’s lead with a steal home on a wild pitch in the top of the eighth inning.
In the final frame the Eagles’ pinch hitter Bobby Kramer and Gugino kept their hopes alive with a double and single respectively. With two outs Cade Thomason hit and RBI single to right that brought Kramer back to home. Four pitches later Sloan ended the contest with a tag at third, 11-10 LSU Alexandria.
The Eagles play Texas Wesleyan on the road Tuesday.
LSU Alexandria 042 013010 —11 12 2 A&M-Texarkana 000 900000 —10 12 1 Clayton Doyle, Josh Gray (5), Brett Weber (7), and Blake Garrett (8) and Thane Lanclos. Justin Swecker, Jared Aldaz (3),Ryan Fant (5), Caleb Dunn (6), Mike Herrera (7), Ethan Davis (9) and Bronson Butcher. WP-Gray. LP-Dunn. HR: A&M-Garrett, 3rd inning 1-on; Constantine 6th inning, none on. LT-Hawkins, 4th inning, 3 on.