Box Score HATTIESBURG, MS — Texas Wesleyan suffered a disappointing loss to Houston-Victoria in the opening round of the NAIA National Tournament, ending their season with a final record of 37-16. Despite putting up an intense fight, Texas Wesleyan fell short as Houston-Victoria emerged victorious with a final score of 9-3.
Both teams showcased their offensive and defensive prowess throughout the game, but Houston-Victoria managed to capitalize on critical opportunities, securing the win. Starting pitcher Julian Garcia played a crucial role for Houston-Victoria, going eight innings and allowing only three runs on seven hits. Garcia's performance earned him the win, improving his season record to 4-7.
Texas Wesleyan took an early lead in the first inning when Grayson Barrett hit a sacrifice fly, allowing
TJ Tomlinson to score. However, Houston-Victoria quickly responded in the fifth inning with an RBI double by Hayden Leopold, tying the game at 1-1. In the sixth inning, Houston-Victoria continued to press forward, with Hale Perez hitting a home run and Westley Schields delivering an RBI single, giving them a 3-1 advantage.
The Texas Wesleyan offense fought back in the seventh inning as Kevin Santiago blasted a two-run homer, leveling the score at 3-3.
Unfortunately, Houston-Victoria swiftly regained control in the following innings. Julian DeLeon's RBI single in the seventh inning and Zach Lee's two-run single in the eighth inning extended Houston-Victoria's lead to 7-3. L. Whitlock's two-RBI single later in the eighth inning sealed the victory for Houston-Victoria, bringing the final score to 9-3.
Texas Wesleyan's offensive efforts were led by Barrett and Santiago, who both had impressive performances. Barrett went 3-for-4 with a double and a sacrifice fly, driving in one run, while Santiago contributed a crucial two-run homer in the seventh inning. However, more than their efforts were needed to overcome Houston-Victoria's resilient defense.
Defensively, Texas Wesleyan struggled to contain Houston-Victoria's strong-hitting lineup. Pitcher
Garrett Bodine took the loss, lasting 5.1 innings and allowing four runs on seven hits. Despite his best efforts, the Houston-Victoria batters proved to be a tough challenge.
As the Texas Wesleyan Rams reflect on their season, they can be proud of their achievements, including a successful regular season and qualifying for the NAIA National Tournament. Although their journey ended sooner than hoped, the team displayed resilience and determination throughout the year.
With the season coming to a close, the Texas Wesleyan baseball program will now shift its focus to the future. The players and coaching staff will undoubtedly use this experience as motivation to continue working hard and striving for success in the coming seasons.
