SHERMAN, Texas – The Austin College baseball team got a walk-off win in a pitchers duel in game one and followed that up by exploding for 11 runs in a game two win over the University of Dallas on Saturday. The 'Roos won by scores of 1-0 and 11-3 to improve to 8-5 overall this season.
In game one, Josh Lewis tossed a complete game shutout, getting out of multiple jams as the Crusaders stranded two runners in three different innings, including putting runners at second and third with one out in both the fourth and fifth innings. Each time, however, Lewis and his defense managed to get out of each inning unscathed and the game was still scoreless heading to the bottom of the ninth.
After Oscar Gonzalez singled to lead off the ninth and quickly stole second base, James Arguello moved him to third with a sacrifice bunt. Dallas intentionally walked the next to two batters to create force plays at every base, and the Crusaders very nearly turned an inning-ending double play but Austin Dudley beat the throw from second to first and Gonzalez came home for the game-winning run.
Lewis scattered eight hits over 9.0 innings, striking out four batters on the day to improve to 3-1 this season. The 'Roos managed just three hits in the game, with Gonzalez going 2-for-4 in the victory.
In game two the 'Roos jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead as Gonzalez and Arguello each singled to start the game, and Scott Gelbart doubled them home. Gelbart then scored on an RBI single by Gus Daniel, and Daniel would eventually come home on a balk.
Dallas plated a pair of runs in the third to make it a 4-2 game, but Daniel scored on a wild pitch in the fifth to ignite a six run inning for the 'Roos that made it an 11-2 game. Tyler Tarbox, Gonzalez, and Gelbart each had RBI doubles in the inning for Austin College. The Crusaders would plate one run in the eighth to make it an 11-3 final margin.
Mychael Parish improved to 3-1 on the year, surrendering two runs on four hits with four strikeouts in 6.0 innings of work. Gelbart went 3-for-5 with three RBI and both Oberg and Dudley collected three hits to lead Austin College offensively. Gonzalez went 2-for-4 with two RBI.
Austin College, which matched last season's win total with the two victories today, will be looking to make it a series sweep tomorrow when the 'Roos host the Crusaders for a single game at 12:00 p.m. at Baker Field.
Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.