Baseball overpowers Tougaloo in first two games
TOUGALOO, Miss. - The Wiley University baseball team built an early lead and held off a late rally in a 7-6 victory in Game 1 and dominated the second game 14-1 against Tougaloo College Saturday at Earl Sanders Field.
The Wildcats (10-13, 5-0 GCAC) extend their season-long winning streak to seven games. They are off to their best start in conference play since 2010. It's their sixth straight win over the Bulldogs.
GAME 1
Wiley struck first when Eddie Garza led off with a single. He stole second and third and scored when the catcher couldn't hold on to the third strike and had to throw to first for the out. With two outs in the second inning, Brendan Mendoza got hit by a pitch. Smauri Abram courtesy-ran and stole second. After Amir Mason walked, Abel Rodriguez scored Abram with a single to center. Garza brought home Mason and Rodriguez with a single, extending the lead to four.
Tougaloo (6-22, 2-3 GCAC) answered, scoring three runs on three hits and an error, which trimmed the lead to one. The Wildcats increased their lead in the fourth inning. Rodriguez singled with one out and stole second. An RBI double by Jacob Perez brought him home. After Ryan Ready walked, Jhan Carlos Javier drove in Perez and Ready with a single to center - pushing the lead back to four.
The Bulldogs didn't go away quietly. They scored runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. With the go-ahead runs on base, Nick Rodriguez got Matt Jones to bunt into a fielder's choice and got De'Everette Ross out at third. He struck out the next two batters to earn his first career save.
Isaac Burciaga started and went 5 2/3 innings. He struck out three, earning his third victory. Garza, Javier and Rodriguez each got two hits.
GAME 2
Wiley took control from the beginning. Ryan Ready hit an RBI single in the first, scoring Perez, who singled with one out. Javier hit his fifth home run in six games to drive in Ready.
The Wildcats followed with six runs in the second inning. They loaded the bases with two walks and a hit by a pitch. Perez brought home Abram and Amir Mason with a single. Ivan Del Villar scored Perez and Ready with a single to right. The right fielder misplayed the grounder, which allowed Javier and Del Villar to score, extending the lead to 9-0.
In the fourth inning, Perez drove in his third run with a double, bringing home Garza, who led off with a walk. An error brought home Perez. Ready hit an RBI single in the fifth. Del Villar hit an RBI single to score Ready.
Perez went 3-for-4 with three runs and three RBI. Ready went 2-for-3 with three runs and three RBI. Javier went 2-for-4 with three runs and two RBI. Del Villar recorded three RBI on two hits and scored one run.
Keyon Guillory started and picked up his second win. He held Tougaloo to a run on two hits and struck out five in four innings. Marquis Kuykendall pitched the fifth and only allowed two hits.
The Wildcats will conclude the series at 1 p.m. tomorrow.
For more coverage on the Wildcats visit Baseball - Wiley University (wileyathletics.com)
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