UTB-TSC Capsules: Scorpions swept in doubleheader by TAMUK
KINGSVILLE — Two contrasting rallies resulted in losses for the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College to Texas A&M University-Kingsville 8-5 and 6-3 on Tuesday at Nolan Ryan Field.
UTB-TSC staged a four-run rally in the seventh inning to cut a deficit to one run in the nine-inning opener. The Scorpions had a 3-1 lead after four innings but could not hold it in the seven-inning nightcap.
“We just flat out didn’ t come to play,” Scorpions coach Bryan Aughney said. “I don’t want to take anything away from TAMUK, but I believe we are a better ball club that we showed today. We have to get this thing figured out, and stop looking the the next guy to get the job done.”
UTB-TSC (8-5), resumes Red River Athletic Conference play Friday when the Scorpions start an important three-game series with Texas Wesleyan University at Scorpion Field. The two teams play a doubleheader at 4 p.m. Friday and a single game at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Game 1: Javelinas 8, Scorpions 5: UTB-TSC fell behind 6-1 after seven innings before mounting a surprising rally.
A sacrifice fly by Zach Cordia and a run-scoring single by Peter Maldonado produced two runs, and two other runs scored on on infield lapses by the Javelinas to make it 6-5. However, the Javs scored twice in the eighth inning to extend the lead.
Aughney went with pitcher-by-committee. Mitch Schaafsma pitched the first four innings, Kale Wierenga the next two, Baylr Bickerton the seventh inning and Albert Vallejo the eighth. Between them, they allowed 12 hits, struck out three, walked four and hit five batters.
The Scorpions had only three hits, two by Maldonado and the third by Frazier.
Game 2: Javelinas 6, Scorpions 3: Ryan Moye, making his first appearance of the season, shut down the Javelinas without a hit through the first four innings, when the Scorpions had a 3-1 lead.
But TAMUK got its first two hits in the fifth inning and tied the game at 3. The Javelinas then scored three more runs in the bottom of the sixth for the 6-3 advantage. Three Scorpions errors contributed to the Javelinas’ rallies. Only one of the final four TAMUK runs were earned.
Zach Cordia went 3 for 4, including a solo home run down the right-field line that gave the Scorpions a 3-1 lead in the fifth. He also scored twice.
Golf
Scorpions women improve in final round
LAREDO — The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College women’s golf team improved its scores on the second day of the Jack Brown Memorial Tournament on Tuesday at the Laredo Country Club, but finished third in the tournament sponsored by Texas A&M International University.
Schreiner University won with a 687 total, followed by Texas A&M University-Kingsville with a 709. UTB-TSC, which had a 366 in the first round, shot a 353 on Tuesday for a 715.
Alainey Muro shot the best round of the tournament for the Scorpions with an 82 for a 176 total. Crystal Garza also had a 176, shooting equal rounds of 88.
“(Tuesday) is what I thought we would shoot (Monday),” Scorpions coach Anthony Lopez. “Had we shot this score, we would have been in contention for the lead. I’m proud of them for coming back and playing the way they did today. This course was tough, and the weather was not good. We made up some shots, but it wasn’t enough.”
Other scores for the Scorpions were Elizabeth Garza (two-round 180), and Veronika Vasquez (two-round 183). Cat Lira’s rounds of 110 and 104 did not count toward the team total.
