Eagles sweep Evangel
Contributing Writer
TEXARKANA, Texas — Texas A&M University Texarkana had two fine pitching performances that led to the Eagles sweeping a doubleheader against the Evangel Crusaders, 4-1, 6-2, Friday afternoon at George Dobson Field.
It was the Eagles’ season openers.
The two teams play another doubleheader today beginning at noon.
“Our pitching and defense were really good today,” said A&M-Texarkana head coach Steve Jones. “I would have liked to get some others in the game, but (Cole) Connolly and (Zac) Harrington were doing so well that I hated to take them out.
“We also had some timely hitting, and was real pleased with the overall performance,” Jones added.
A&M-Texarkana will be in action again next Friday and Saturday against Friends University (Kansas) for doubleheaders beginning at noon.
First Game Texarkana 4, Evangel 1
The Springfield, Mo., team got off to a good start with the first two batters, Patrick Gaul and Stephen Belcher, getting infield hits, but Connolly pitched out of trouble.
The Eagles broke through with three runs on two hits in the third.
Isaac D’Agostino drew a walk and Wyatt Stavinoha reached on an error. Joe Pearlman sacrificed the runners to second and third.
Brayden Cook singled past the shortstop, driving in both runners. Jaylan Prince singled in the third run for a 3-0 lead.
The Crusaders’ only run came in the fourth inning. Jordan Yates led off with a single and Noah Suitor dropped a single into shallow left field. A passed ball advanced both runners, and Preston Allmand’s sacrifice fly to right-center scored Yates.
Connolly, a senior righthander from Auburn Wash., went the distance in the seven-inning game, giving up seven hits and striking out four. Bret Hoffman was the losing pitcher.
Second Game Texarkana 6, Evangel 2
Chris McGinty played a big role in the win, going 3 for 3 and a walk and three RBIs.
In the Eagles’ third inning, Pearlman walked and Cook was hit by a pitch. After an out, McGinty singled home Pearlman, and Cook scored later on an error for a 2-0 lead.
Brandon Riley led off the fifth inning by beating out a bunt. McGinty doubled home Riley, and later scored on a fielder’s choice.
Evangel’s only runs came in the sixth inning with the help of a big error.
Nathan Lamb led off by drawing a walk, ending a streak of 14 batters retired by Harrington.
Gaul then singled to right, and the ball got past the right fielder for a three-base error, scoring Lamb. Gaul scored on Belcher’s grounder to short.
The Eagles scored their final two runs on four hits in the bottom of the sixth. Angel Mauricio, Pearlman, Cook and McGinty had a single each.
Harrington, a senior righthander from Magnolia, Ark., went the distance giving up just two hits and striking out five. Both runs were unearned.