Generals’ big 4th, pitching lead to win over Twins

It all came down to the pitching and a big inning.

Victoria put up three runs in the fourth and went on to defeat Texarkana, 5-3, in Game 1 of a doubleheader at George Dobson Field on Monday.

“We played well and hit it good, but I just wish we could’ve had more base runners,” Twins’ head coach Nolan Fanning said. “We walked too many guys, and did not command the strike zone well enough. Their pitcher controlled it a lot better, and that was the difference.”

Victoria pitcher Gabriel Sequiera tossed all seven frames, allowed three runs on just five hits, struck out five, did not walk a batter, and hit a batter.

Texarkana native and former Pleasant Grove standout Tyler Jeans got the start for the Twins, pitched four innings, allowed four runs on five hits, struck out two, walked three, hit two batters, and absorbed the loss.

Jojo Craig went 2 for 3 with a pair of singles, while teammate Gunner Halter was 2 for 4 with two singles for Texarkana.

Matt McDonald hit an RBI single up the middle to score Halter, who singled over the shortstop’s head, stole second and third, to give the Twins an early 1-0 lead after a frame.

Dominic Cox, who had doubled down the left field line, scored on a wild pitch for Victoria to even it up at 1-all in the top of the second.

The Generals plated three runs in the fourth on a two-run single by Michael Williams and an RBI single to right center by Thomas Jeffries.

Craig laced in single to score Cam Hill, who was hit by a pitch and stole second, for the Twins. The runs cut the Generals lead to 4-2.

Halter hit a high chopper for a base hit with one on in the fifth. Peyton Faulkner, who had singled to left field, moved up to third and scored on Dylan Ditzenberger’s sacrifice bunt to inch Texarkana closer, 4-3.

Twins’ reliever Gage Wall pitched two solid frames in relief as he gave up just one hit, no runs, and struck out two.

Jeffries belted a solo home run to right in the seventh to seal it for the Generals, 5-3.

Texarkana dropped to 11-14, while Victoria improved to 14-9 going into Game 2. See Wednesday’s edition for coverage of the nightcap.

The Twins host the Brazos Valley Bombers Thursday and Friday with an Independence Day Fireworks celebration scheduled for Friday night.

Generals 010 300 1 — 5 8 1 Twins 100 110 0 — 3 5 0

Gabriel Sequiera and Luis Oliver. Tyler Jeans, Gage Wall (5), Logan Ammons (7) and Jacob Nunez. WP-Sequiera. LP-Jeans. HR: Victoria-Thomas Jeffries, 7th, none on.