FORT WORTH, TX: The Texas Wesleyan University baseball team (4-3) split a doubleheader with Avila University (1-5) at Sycamore Park on Saturday. The Eagles came from behind to score a 6-5 win in game one, before the Rams prevailed 5-3 in game two.
Texas Wesleyan's
Zach Aitken and Avila's E.J. Merlo were in control of game one early on. Avila scored first with a two-out RBI single from Randy Keen in the first.
The offenses got going in the fourth.
Blake Seaton led off with a single and later stole third and scored on a wild pitch. The Rams added a run on an Avila error to snag a 2-1 lead.
In the fifth inning
Jonathan Bravo drilled an RBI double that scored
Luke Zrostlik from first base. Two batters later
Casey Moses plated Bravo with a single up the middle. Seaton followed with a double that chased Merlo from the game.
Dylan Measells welcomed the new Eagle hurler with an RBI single and the Rams led 5-1.
The Eagles came right back in the sixth scoring runs on an RBI double from Scott Drinkwater and a Texas Wesleyan error. Avila then loaded the bases with one out. A hit-batter and a ground out plated two more runs to tie the game at 5-5.
Avila put runners at second and third with one out in the seventh.
Mike Jeffcoat elected to issue an intentional walk to set up a potential double play. The strategy appeared to work, but Danny Kralicek was called safe at first as the go-ahead run crossed the plate.
Wade Regas (0-1) took the loss after allowing three runs, one earned on two hits in two innings. Aitken allowed three runs, two earned on eight hits over five innings of work. Jamie Good (1-0) picked up the win with 1.2 innings of scoreless relief and Chase Cunningham worked a scoreless seventh to secure his first save of the season.
Blake Seaton went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored in the loss.
In game two, the Eagles got a two-run double from Brandon Chandler in the first inning.
The Rams did all of their offensive damage in the bottom of the first, scoring five runs on four hits a walk and an Avila error. The rally was highlighted by an RBI double from
Dylan Measells, an RBI triple from
Erick Quesada, and a two-run single from
Garrett Crook.
Ricky Hull took care of things from there. He allowed just one more run while improving to 2-0 on the season. Hull gave up three runs on four hits in six innings pitched. Regas tossed the seventh and recorded his first save of the season.
Casey Moses and
Erick Quesada each went 2-for-3 at the plate in game two.
The Rams and Eagles will continue their 5-game series with a Valentine's Day doubleheader at Sycamore Park. Game one is scheduled for a 12:00 p.m. start.
Ramblings
- The all-time series between these two teams is tied 5-5.
- The Rams added another triple to their ledger on Saturday. They now have nine three-baggers in their first seven games.
