Thursday, April 23, 2009

TC clips Roadrunners’ wings...

TC clips Roadrunners’ wings

Doubleheader sweep puts Texarkana in second in East


Staff photo by Tanner Spendley Texarkana College’s John Stilson doesn’t make it to first base before the throw to Angelina College’s Chase Hernandez on Wednesday at George Dobson Field. The Roadrunners dropped the doubleheader, 14-6, 15-5, continuing a losing streak at Dobson that began in 2001.
Wednesday’s Region XIV doubleheader at George Dobson Field was the latest reminder why Angelina College dreads making its annual trip to Texarkana.

The Roadrunners, who haven’t won at Dobson since 2001, will no doubt have that same feeling of trepidation next year after dropping 14-6 and 15-5 decisions to Texarkana College, which moved into second place behind Panola College in the East Zone standings. Panola (19-7) swept league-leading Navarro College (16-8), 9-2 and 5-2, Wednesday.

The Bulldogs (32-13, 17-8) overcame a 7-6 deficit by scoring eight runs in the sixth inning of the opener, then belted out 17 hits, including two home runs by former Arkansas High standout Lance Marvel, to take the nightcap, called after seven innings on the 10-run rule.

“We had a good approach at the plate going all day,” TC coach Will Bolt said. “We used the entire field, hit some balls in the gap and squared up balls on hitters’ counts. It was good to see it carry over from Game 2 against Paris Monday.”

First-game starter Tanner Bailey struggled, giving up the lead on a three-run homer in the fourth inning by Paul Prestera. The Roadrunners (27-21, 13-12) tacked on two more runs in the fifth to take a 7-4 lead, but the Bulldogs got those two back in the bottom of the inning on David Allday’s two-run single.

Then after Joaquin Hinojosa came on to fan Chase Hernandez with the bases loaded in the top of the sixth, TC paraded 13 batters to the plate, scoring eight runs on seven hits against three Angelina relievers.

Pinch-hitter Gip Hendrix’s three-run double was the big blow in the rally. Thomas Watson had two hits in the inning and Trey Buck an RBI double. Angelina had one of its four errors in the frame, and allowed another batter to reach first base on a wild pitch following a strikeout.

Watson had three hits, including a double, Buck and Allday had a double and single each, Jordy Snikeris two hits and Allday drove in four runs.

Hinojoso picked up the win, pitching to just one batter. Shane Cole pitched the seventh. Bailey gave up five runs (four earned) on six hits with four strikeouts and two walks.

“We needed a stop on the mound in the sixth inning and Hinojosa gave it to us,” Bolt said. “We took the momentum from that into the bottom of the sixth, and probably into the next game.”

Zach Fowler was the recipient of the Bulldogs’ big bats in the nightcap. He went all seven innings, yielding 11 hits, walking two and striking out one.

“Zach was better today; I thought he was really attacking the strike zone and didn’t always get credit for it,” Bolt said. “He just had a different demeanor about him today. In the first game, Bailey couldn’t put anybody away. He’d get ahead and hang a breaking ball or leave a fastball out over the plate, and they made him pay for it. Angelina does that to people.”

The big inning was again the difference in the second game, the Bulldogs scoring four runs in the fourth inning and seven in the second. After Angelina stalled the run-rule ending with two runs in the seventh, the Bulldogs bounced back to score two in the bottom of the frame to end the game.

Marvel was 3 for 4 with the two home runs and three RBI, and Buck added a solo homer, double and single in four at-bats. Watson drove in three runs with a single and triple, Snikeris doubled twice and Hinojosa added two singles.

The Bulldogs travel to Jacksonville to face last-place Lon Morris College Saturday. TC may still have to complete a game at Paris next week if it affects the final standings. If so, the game will be picked up in the fifth inning with the Bulldogs ahead 8-2.



GAME 1

Angelina College 101 320 1 — 8 9 4

Texarkana College 310 028 x — 14 15 1

Cory Benavides, Chase Barrera (6), Heath Arnold (6), Ryan Smith (6) and Chris Jones. Tanner Bailey, Ty Moore (5), Brittan Diamond (5), Joaquin Hinojosa (6), Shane Cole (7) and Jordy Snikeris. WP-Hinojosa. LP-Barrera. HR: AC-Paul Prestera, 4th, 2 on; Michael Padgett, 7th, none on.



GAME 2

Angelina College 000 120 2 — 5 11 1

Texarkana College 110 470 2 — 15 17 0

One out when game ended on 10-run rule.

Miller Aldrich, Ryland Parker (5), John Tatum (5), Mark Serna (7) and Benito Gonzales, Jerrod Dugas (6). Zach Fowler and Jordy Snikeris, Michael Long (7). WP-Fowler (6-3). LP-Aldrich. HR: TC-Lance Marvel, 2nd, none on; Trey Buck, 4th, none on; Marvel, 5th, 1 on.