Second-place Twins hand Arcadiana 9-6 loss

The Texarkana Twins gave the fans something to celebrate even before postgame fireworks lit up the sky.

The Texas Collegiate League second-place Twins scored six runs in the middle innings and never gave the lead back to take a 9-6 series-opening victory over the Acadiana Cane Cutters on Friday night at George Dobson Field in Spring Lake Park.

The triumph marks Texarkana’s fourth straight in the young season.

Acadiana scored a quick run in the first inning, but the Twins responded in the bottom of the frame when Tanner Sparks drove in Gunner Halter on an infield single. Halter led off the inning with a triple down the right-field line.

The Cane Cutters took the lead back with a two-run second inning, but, again, Texarkana answered with a run of its own to cut into the visiting team’s 3-2 lead.

After allowing another run in the fourth, the Twins began their rally with two three-run innings in the fourth and fifth frames.

Two walks and a single loaded the bases in the fourth, and a Hunter Southerland single and an error helped Texarkana take a 5-4 lead.

In the fifth inning, three more Cane Cutter errors led to three insurance runs as Texarkana took a commanding 8-4 lead that wouldn’t be threatened the rest of the game.

Acadiana scored two runs on three hits in the sixth, but Coltyn Kessler helped cushion the blow with a sacrifice fly to score Halter in the bottom of the seventh.

Neither team would score in the final two frames.

Jesse Philip got the start on the mound for the Twins and posted the win as fellow hurler Colby Adkins came in relief to strike out the side in the ninth inning.

Texarkana is back in action Sunday night when it travels to Bryan, Texas, to face the Brazos Valley Bombers. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.