HUNTSVILLE, Texas - Hendrix baseball suffered its first series loss of the season to the University of St. Thomas, but salvaged the road trip to Texas with a Game 3 win to give the Warriors their first win in conference play.
Game 1 (L, 4-0)
The series opener was a pitcher's duel, with neither team able to score a run until the hosts broke the tie in the 7th inning with a bases-loaded walk. St. Thomas added three more runs for good measure, while the pitching staff combined for a shutout.
Austin Rabago was the lone Warrior to record a hit on the night with a triple in the top of the ninth.
Kyle Taylor and
Braxton Waller each recorded two strikeouts. The former got the ball to start the series, allowing just two hits in 2.1 innings.
Game 2 (L , 9-5)
The series was wrapped in the first half of Friday's doubleheader, with the Celts once again breaking a tie in the later innings to emerge victorious. St. Thomas plated two runs in the first inning to take an early lead. With two in scoring position and nobody out,
Ryne Dodson sent a sacrifice fly to center field to score
Aaron Gonzales.
Charlie Deaton was left stranded in scoring position as the final two hitters of the half inning were retired.
Mike Massa singled in Rabago to make it 3-2 in the top half of the 3rd. Trailing 4-2 entering the 5th, Hendrix found an offensive groove as the first three batters all reached. With
Ryan Lang at second base after a lead-off single,
Chase Harris brought him with a single to left field. Rabago then singled in Harris and
Reed Ketcham to give Hendrix its first lead of the series. The Warriors held onto that lead until the home half of the 7th when the Celts tied the game with a solo shot. St. Thomas later took the lead on a wild pitch and added another run in the frame off a sacrifice fly. The Celts added another in the 8th off an error to put some distance between them and the visitors.
Game 3 (W, 4-3)
Hendrix started the series finale faster than they had the prior two games.
Shaun Pope led off the game with a single to left field, and was then brought in by a
Bryson Claiborne double. Dodson then moved Claiborne over to third base with a single, with Claiborne scoring on the next at-bat when
Aaron Gonzales grounded into a double play.
The Warriors added another in the third, when Dodson brought in Claiborne with a two-out double to left field. The Celts tied the game with a three-spot in the home half of the 8th, but Hendrix scored the go-ahead and winning run in the 9th after
Mike Massa's infield single score
Nick Echaniz.
Mason Holmes (1-1) was the pitcher of record for the Warriors, earning his first win on the mound in a 3.0 inning relief appearance. The freshman struck out four and scattered three hits in his outing.
Claiborne had an outstanding day at the plate in his Hendrix debut, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored.
