Scorpions split doubleheader with Cougars
POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. - Jacob Yousif blasted a three-run homer and drive in five runs to pace the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College to an 11-0 victory over College of the Ozarks in the first game of a doubleheader Friday.
The Cougars took advantage of shaky Scorpions pitching in the late innings for an 9-8 victory in the nightcap.
UTB-TSC (7-14) and CofO (4-9) meet for the final two games of the five-game series in a doubleheader starting at noon Saturday.
UTB-TSC 11, College of Ozarks 0, 6 innings, Game 1
After holding a slim 2-0 lead after four innings, the Scorpions erupted for five runs in the fifth and four in the sixth to put the game away by the 10-run rule after six innings.
Yousif's three-run homer, his second of the season, highlighted the four-run sixth inning. He also delivered a two-run double in the fifth.
Ryan Macdonald led the Scorpions with three hits and scored three runs. Catcher Gilbert Puente, batting leadoff, had two hits together with Matt Warner and Scott Price. Yousif and Juan Munoz each scored twice and Jose Guerra drove in two.
Scorpions starting pitcher Julian Moya (4-2) went the distance for the victory, allowing only two hits and striking out six. He walked two and threw only 83 pitches.
College of Ozarks 9, UTB-TSC 8, 8 innings, Game 2
What appeared to be a great Scorpions comeback turned out to be a disappointing finish. Going into the seventh inning, UTB-SC trailed the Cougars 4-3 before scoring four runs to take a 7-4 lead into the bottom of the seventh.
Run-scoring doubles by Yousif and Tyler O'Neal were the big blows that put the Scorpions ahead.
However, in the bottom of the seventh, Scorpions pitchers Jacob Venegas and Diego Garcia allowed one single, four walks and a wild pitch to account for three Cougars runs and a game tied at 7.
In the extra eighth inning, Walter Blume doubled and Peter Maldonado singled him home to give the Scorpions an 8-7 lead.
However, in the bottom of the eighth, Scorpions pitchers Kellen Burman and Sam Buchanan walked five straight batters, forcing in the tying and winning runs.
The Scorpions had 11 hits, including three by Yousif, who also scored three runs. Maldonado had two hits, and Munoz scored two runs and drove in two.
