Escovedo shines in shutout win, giving the Steers baseball team close victory over Pecos Eagles
The Big Spring Steers Baseball team opened up their play in the West Texas Baseball classic this past Thursday night, March 11, taking on the Pecos Eagles at Steer Ballpark. The Steers started tournament play with an exciting win in a close game 2 to 0. The game was highlighted by Sophomore Pitcher Ricky Escovedo who dazzled on the mound, pitching a complete-game shutout. Escovedo only allowed three hits and struck out seven on his day of work. While Escovedo shined, it was also the defense behind the young pitcher who did their part in the field, making play after play to keep runners off base. It was a complete team effort for the Steers who pushed their record to 9-3-1.
The first inning of the game started with two ground outs to third baseman Jose Cantu who fielded the balls with no problems. Escovedo then earned his first strikeout of the night to end the top of the first inning. Maverick Yanez leads off the game for the Steers with a hard-hit single. Gabriel Baeza then came up and drove in Yanez, scoring the first run of the game. The Steers ended the first inning of play with a 1 to 0 lead.
The second inning of work for Escovedo started very much like the first, with the first two quick outs being ground balls to third baseman Cantu. He then struck out the last batter of the inning. Big Spring went down in order in the top of the second, keeping the lead at 1 to 0 after two innings of play.
The third inning of work for Ricky was more of the same as the Steers defense made great plays to keep runners off the bases; through three innings of work, Escovedo had only allowed two base runners even to reach base. The bottom of the third saw the Steers get two baserunners on but could not find a way to push them across.
To start the fourth, Escovedo continued to dominate the Eagles, as he had another easy inning of work highlighted by a diving run-saving catch by Right Fielder Gabriel Baeza. The Steers went on to add an insurance run in the fourth inning when Pablito Dehoyos would come around to score after a slew of errors from the Pecos defense. Making the score 2 to 0.
Escovedo would pitch an amazing game, not allowing Pecos to ever get into a groove keeping the Eagles' bats off balance and guessing in the box all game long.
The 2 to 0 win for the Steers is a good starting point for the weekend as they continue to play in the West Texas Classic over the weekend, leading up to District play Starting Tuesday in Lubbock.