A Christian University & Bible College in Texas (Assemblies of God)

Scorpions Steal 11-0 Win Over SAGU

UT-Brownsville collects 14 steals in victory

WAXAHACHIE, Texas  --  The University of Texas at Brownsville, unable to get untracked with their bats, instead took advantage of walks and aggressive base-running enroute to an 11-0 win over Southwestern Assemblies of God University on Friday night.

Aided by wildness on the mound and behind the plate, the Scorpions built a 9-0 lead with six runs in the third inning to grab early control of the game. They parlayed seven walks, a hit batter, and four wild pitches and took advantage of an infield error and a dropped fly ball. What really fueled their scoring however was a school record 14 stolen bases.

Two SAGU (3-3, 0-1 in RRAC) pitchers limited the Scorpions to four ground singles and struck out five in the first three innings. But the damage was done. UTB (5-1, 1-0 in RRAC) added two runs later in the game and went on to post their first win in the Red River Athletic Conference.

Joel Fernandez went 2-for-3 and drove in two runs, the lone player in the game to have more than one hit or run batted in.

UT-Brownsville’s Kevin Chapman, meanwhile, set down two scoring threats by the Lions. The senior righthander collected the win by scattering three hits and struck out seven batters.

Missed Opportunities

Southwestern had their chances to get to Chapman. Leadoff hitter Dustin Jett (Patterson, La / Patterson HS) was in scoring position in first inning after a sacrifice bunt by Cameron Ward (Mansfield, Tx / Grace Prep). Trailing 1-0, the Lions left Jett on the runway.

The Lions best chance to score came several innings later. Sean Armstrong (Albuquerque, NM / Manzano HS) ripped a single to start the frame.  Shortstop David Gomez (Arlington, Tx / Bowie HS) doubled by hammering a drive down the third base line, just beyond a diving leftfielder. With two on and no outs, they were left stranded by the top of the order. The extra-base hit by Gomez was the only one between the two teams.

Ward, a senior southpaw, was SAGU’s standout performer. He started the game in leftfield, and then came to the mound as the team’s third pitcher. Over the next four innings he held the Stingers to two runs on four hits (all singles), while striking out two and issued one base on balls. Besides his sacrifice bunt, he later lined a solid base hit.

The Lions had several good at bats in the first three innings, but were set down on “atom” balls, smashing would-be hits right at ‘em. They struck out seven times, equaling the number that SAGU hurlers produced against the Scorpions.

Saturday Double Dip

SAGU and UTB will play twice more on Saturday during an afternoon double-dip. The first game will commence at noon. The Lions will send a pair of righthanders to the hill in sophomore Michael Reeves (Ovilla, Tx / Ovilla Christian) and junior Chris Stanley (Harker Heights, Tx / Ellison HS).

Southwestern plays its home games at the Waxahachie Sports Complex, located on Broadhead Road, just north of Highway 287. The park is located across from Showbiz Theatre.