EDINBURG, Texas —It was a tough day at the ballpark for Seattle U baseball on Saturday, as it dropped a doubleheader to UTRGV and conceded the series in the process. The Redhawks fell 13-0 in game one before succumbing to a 5-4 extra-inning decision in game two.
"Today was just very disappointing," said Redhawks head coach Donny Harrel. " We did not pitch in the first game, and then when we did in the second game, we couldn't produce a key hit and end up losing on an error. We need to be better in finding ways to play complete baseball games and to be consistent in all three phases of the game, because right now we aren't doing that."
Trailing the series, 3-0, Seattle U will try to avoid the weekend sweep on Sunday as it returns to action. First pitch of the series finale is slated for 8 am PT.
Game 1: Seattle U 0, UTRGV 13 (7 inn.)
Not much went the Seattle U way in the opener as it were quickly left behind in the Texas heat, as UTRGV sprinted out to a double-figure lead after plating six in first and four in the second, and before adding one in the third and two more in the sixth.
At the dish, the Redhawks part of lopsided margin as they were out hit, 15-4, with Shane Jamison, Gavin Rork, Mason Hoover and Kai Alberghini each registering base knocks.
It was a rough day on the mound for Redhawk starter Alex Jemal (2-5) who suffered the loss. The right-hander was unable to get out of the first inning as he gave up six runs, five earned, on seven hits before turning the ball over to Kohl Petersen. Petersen then next worked 4 1/3 innings, allowing five runs, four earned, on five hits; and held UTRGV scoreless in back-to-back frames as he went 1-2-3 in the fourth before faced the minimum in the fifth. Shane Melrose then made his Seattle U debut as he threw in the sixth.
Game 2: Seattle U 4, UTRGV 5 (10 inn.)
In the nightcap, Seattle U open by holding a 2-0 lead after an inning and a half, but was washed away with back-to-back runs from the Vaqueros in the second and third.
Rork and Grant Hesier accounted for the Redhawk tallies. Rork crossed home on a wild pitch in the first, while Hesier scored on an Alberghini single in the second.
Tied at 2-2 in the fourth, Rork then nudged the Redhawks to slim lead, driving in Austin Lively with a two-out double. It was Rork's second two-base knock of the game as he finished 2-for-3 with three walks. The margin evaporated in the home half as UTRGV pulled even with a two-out double of its own.
The score remained 3-3, as the teams mirrored each other for three scoreless innings. In the eighth, Jamison broke the deadlock driving Trevor Antonson in with single though the left side. Antonson scored from third on the play after entering as a pinch runner for Drake Maningo who had a lead-off, before advancing 90 feet on a fly out by Hesier. The Vaqueros however stayed in-step, immediately answering with a solo home run to make it 4-4.
After the Redhawks stranded two runners in the 10th, UTRGV picked up momentum late as it garnered a pair of walks to join the placed runner and load the bases. A dribbler to the right then allowed the Vaqueros' decisive go-ahead run to score as the Redhawks were unable to get the force out due to errant throw home.
On the mound, Seattle U hurler Peter Chronowski lasted five innings as he earned his second career start. The southpaw surrendered three runs, two earned, on seven hits but did not factor into the decision. Reliever Brady Liddle was charged with loss after throwing 4 1/3 innings, with two runs against on four hits.
At the plate, Alberghini finished with a 2-for-3 day, while Maningo was 2-for-4. Collectively, the Redhawks fared a bit better compared to their opening game performance, however were out hit 11-9; and struggled to drive runs across as they left 14 runners stranded.