CLEBURNE, Texas - Hendrix dropped their SCAC Championships opener to McMurry on Thursday afternoon but staved off elimination by defeating Centenary in Thursday's elimination game to advance to another elimination game on Saturday.
McMurry (L, 11-6)
Hendrix's defense committed two early errors that put them behind the 8-ball. McMurry plated three runs off of those errors, then scored two more in the third frame to go up 5-0. The Warriors got on the board in the top of the third as
Zane Nolan and
Giancarlo Digiacomo reached on back-to-back one-out singles.
Ryne Dodson then singled in Nolan with two outs and
Shaun Pope singled in Digiacomo, and
Chase Harris then doubled in Dodson. Hendrix had runners on the corners with the tying run on first, but the Warriors were unable to cut into the deficit anymore headed into the home third. The WarHawks added two more in that frame and two more in the fourth to take a commanding 9-3 lead.
Chase Harris' one-out solo shot in the sixth brought to Warriors to within five.
In the eighth, Pope's single and an error set the stage for
Nick Echaniz, who delivered an RBI single. Nolan brought in
Bryson Claiborne with a sacrifice fly to make it 10-6, but Hendrix was unable to capitalize off of the momentum by leaving two on base.
McMurry added another run for good measure in the home eighth, and Hendrix went scoreless in the ninth to close it out.
Dylan Kalmus started on the mound for Hendrix and went 2.0 innings, allowing 4 earned runs on 3 hits.
Rowan Glover provided stability out of the bullpen, pitching 3.0 innings and surrendering just 1 earned run on 6 hits while striking out 2 batters.
Chance Reed,
Hugh Hill, and
Cole Goolsby each contributed an inning of relief, with Reed allowing no runs, while Hill and Goolsby each allowed 1 earned run in their respective innings.
Centenary (W, 8-3)
Unlike their game versus McMurry, the Warriors jumped out to an early lead with a five-run first inning.
Hendrix opened the game with a strong offensive display, as
Zane Nolan reached first on an error, stole second, and was driven in by
Ryne Dodson's single.
Austin Rabago and
Chase Harris added RBIs with singles, while
Charlie Deaton's double cleared the bases, bringing in three more runs.
Centenary responded in the second inning with a run on an RBI ground-out to make it 5-1.
In the fifth inning, the Warriors extended their lead to 6-1.
Ryne Dodson singled, advanced on an error, and scored on
Charlie Deaton's sacrifice fly.
Centenary added a run in the seventh inning, but Hendrix countered with two more runs.
Ryne Dodson scored on
Shaun Pope's double, and Pope later crossed the plate on
Nick Echaniz's sacrifice fly, pushing the lead to 8-2.
Centenary scored once more in the eighth inning, cutting the deficit to 8-3. However, the Warriors' pitching staff held firm, securing an 8-3 victory. Final score: Hendrix 8, Centenary 3.
Kyle Taylor was magnificent in his elimination game start, tossing 6.0 innings of one-run ball on 5 hits while striking out 4 batters.
Aiden Leggett pitched 1.0 inning in relief and punched out two batters.
Braxton Waller contributed 2.0 innings to close out the game and recorded a strikeout.
Dodson led the way with three runs scored and added two hits, contributing significantly to the team's offensive efforts.
Charlie Deaton recorded four RBIs and delivered a double.
Shaun Pope added a double and an RBI while also walking once, contributing both at the plate and on the bases with a stolen base.
With the elimination game win, Hendrix advances to Saturday's elimination game and will face the lowest-seeded loser of the two winner's bracket games. First pitch is tentatively set for 7:00 PM at La Moderna Field.
