HOUSTON – The Texas Southern University baseball team hit and ran its way to 9-2 win over Arkansas– Pine Bluff, giving the Tigers the weekend series victory with Sunday's triumph.
First baseman Gaudencio Lucca went 5-for-5 and hit for the cycle, while Kamren Dukes stole three bases – all in the same inning – as the Tigers (9-15) improved to 6-2 in league play to remain atop the Southwestern Athletic Conference's West Division.
Sophomore pitcher Michael Villanueva won his second consecutive start for the Tigers, striking out six batters and allowing three hits and four walks over seven innings of work. His run of 13 consecutive scoreless innings was snapped in the seventh inning when he gave up a two-run home run to Pine Bluff outfielder Cutter McDonald.
The two RBIs by McDonald proved to be too little too late for the Lions, who trailed 4-0 after the first inning and 6-0 after three frames. The homerun also ended a streak of 14 consecutive scoreless innings over three games for the Golden Lions; meanwhile, TSU had scored 24 unanswered runs until the McDonald homer.
TSU's bats got going quickly with Dukes and Jose Camacho leading off the bottom of the first inning with infield singles. After Christian Sanchez' groundout advanced the runners, Lucca knocked a double down the leftfield line to put the Tigers ahead 2-0. The home team doubled their lead just as quickly, as Olajide Oloruntimilehin knocked a towering home run to left field on the next at-bat.
In the second inning, it was Dukes who put TSU's next run on the board. After drawing a two-out walk, Dukes stole second base and third base with Camacho at the plate. With a 2-1 count to Camacho, Dukes took a big lead off third and successfully stole home, giving the Tigers a 5-0 lead and bringing TSU fans to their feet.
Dukes' steal of home, coupled with not getting called strikes on several pitches in the inning, resulted in Pine Bluff starting pitcher Thomas Sanchez approaching the home plate umpire and yelling about the calls. Sanchez was held back by his coaches but was ejected from the game. Moments later UAPB head coach Carlos James was also ejected.
Though he had left the field, Sanchez, a left-handed pitcher, was charged for a walk to Camacho after Tyrus Lopez came into the game in relief with the count still 3-1. Camacho switched sides of the plate when right-hander Lopez came in, and drew the walk on the Pine Bluff hurler's first pitch.
Lucca picked up his triple to lead off the third inning, but was thrown out at home when Oloruntimilehin reached base on a fielder's choice. Oloruntimilehin then scored on Keanu Van Kuren's RBI double.
In the seventh inning, Lucca took completed the cycle by knocking the first pitch he saw from Lopez over the left field fence for a run to stretch TSU's lead to 7-2. The Tigers added two more in the eighth when catch Ricky Urbano led off with a single and later came home on a throwing error. Dukes would score the team's final run on Sanchez' sacrifice fly.
Peyton Schneider pitched a one-two-three eighth inning for the Tigers, while Jacob Gilbreath tossed a scoreless ninth. Both pitchers got one strikeout apiece.
The Tigers return to action Tuesday when they visit Stephen F. Austin for a non-conference matchup. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in Nacogdoches.
Courtesy: TSU Athletics
First baseman Gaudencio Lucca went 5-for-5 and hit for the cycle, while Kamren Dukes stole three bases – all in the same inning – as the Tigers (9-15) improved to 6-2 in league play to remain atop the Southwestern Athletic Conference's West Division.
Sophomore pitcher Michael Villanueva won his second consecutive start for the Tigers, striking out six batters and allowing three hits and four walks over seven innings of work. His run of 13 consecutive scoreless innings was snapped in the seventh inning when he gave up a two-run home run to Pine Bluff outfielder Cutter McDonald.
The two RBIs by McDonald proved to be too little too late for the Lions, who trailed 4-0 after the first inning and 6-0 after three frames. The homerun also ended a streak of 14 consecutive scoreless innings over three games for the Golden Lions; meanwhile, TSU had scored 24 unanswered runs until the McDonald homer.
TSU's bats got going quickly with Dukes and Jose Camacho leading off the bottom of the first inning with infield singles. After Christian Sanchez' groundout advanced the runners, Lucca knocked a double down the leftfield line to put the Tigers ahead 2-0. The home team doubled their lead just as quickly, as Olajide Oloruntimilehin knocked a towering home run to left field on the next at-bat.
In the second inning, it was Dukes who put TSU's next run on the board. After drawing a two-out walk, Dukes stole second base and third base with Camacho at the plate. With a 2-1 count to Camacho, Dukes took a big lead off third and successfully stole home, giving the Tigers a 5-0 lead and bringing TSU fans to their feet.
Dukes' steal of home, coupled with not getting called strikes on several pitches in the inning, resulted in Pine Bluff starting pitcher Thomas Sanchez approaching the home plate umpire and yelling about the calls. Sanchez was held back by his coaches but was ejected from the game. Moments later UAPB head coach Carlos James was also ejected.
Though he had left the field, Sanchez, a left-handed pitcher, was charged for a walk to Camacho after Tyrus Lopez came into the game in relief with the count still 3-1. Camacho switched sides of the plate when right-hander Lopez came in, and drew the walk on the Pine Bluff hurler's first pitch.
Lucca picked up his triple to lead off the third inning, but was thrown out at home when Oloruntimilehin reached base on a fielder's choice. Oloruntimilehin then scored on Keanu Van Kuren's RBI double.
In the seventh inning, Lucca took completed the cycle by knocking the first pitch he saw from Lopez over the left field fence for a run to stretch TSU's lead to 7-2. The Tigers added two more in the eighth when catch Ricky Urbano led off with a single and later came home on a throwing error. Dukes would score the team's final run on Sanchez' sacrifice fly.
Peyton Schneider pitched a one-two-three eighth inning for the Tigers, while Jacob Gilbreath tossed a scoreless ninth. Both pitchers got one strikeout apiece.
The Tigers return to action Tuesday when they visit Stephen F. Austin for a non-conference matchup. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in Nacogdoches.
Courtesy: TSU Athletics