CONWAY - Hendrix dropped a high-scoring midweek bout with #24 East Texas Baptist on Tuesday afternoon at Warrior Baseball Field.
There were 32 combined hits between the two teams, with the long ball coming into play on three occasions. The Tigers struck first with two runs in the first with a two-run shot, but Hendrix responded in the home half of the inning as
Ryan Lang singled in
Shaun Pope for the home side's opening run.
ETBU scored four in the third to go up by five runs before
Josh Sutrina drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in
Zane Nolan, and
Chase Harris singled in
Charlie Deaton in the fourth to cut the deficit to three. From there, the visitor's offense exploded as they scored nine unanswered runs across the next three innings to make it 15-3. The Warriors fought off a potential run-rule in the home seventh when
Jacob Moody and
Mike Massa recorded RBI base-hits for a combined three runs.
ETBU homered in the visitor ninth to make it 17-6 with the game assuredly beyond doubt, but Hendrix's offense in the last half inning made for a nervy last three outs for the Tigers as the Warriors scored seven in the ninth and got the tying run into the on-deck circle before the side was eventually retired. The Hendrix offensive spurt was led off by a 412-foot lead-off bomb from
Jacob Moody to straight-away centerfield. The Warriors then loaded the bases and brought in runs with either a walk or a hit-by-pitch with RBIs from
Cole Goolsby, Nich Echaniz, and
Bryson Claiborne.
Kaden Vela then recorded his first career RBI with a single to center to score Goolsby, and
Giancarlo Digiacomo laced a two-RBI single to left field to bring in Echaniz and Claiborne for the final two runs.
Hugh Hill spun a scoreless inning with two strikeouts out of the bullpen, while
Caden Goad also tossed a shutout frame. Of note,
Dierk Beddingfield made his first career-start and Sam Collier-Tension made a 0.1 IP outing to mark his first career-outing on the bump.
The Warriors now head to Irving, Texas for a three-game set with the Dallas Crusaders on Thursday and Friday.
