Offensive Explosion Leads 'Roos Past HPU

CLEBURNE, Texas - The Austin College baseball team erupted for 14 runs on Tuesday evening at Railroaders Stadium in Cleburne, as the 'Roos stepped out of conference play for a 14-2 run-rule victory over Howard Payne University.

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the third, when Howard Payne got a run to go on top 1-0. That lead didn't last long, though, as Austin College pushed six runs across in the top of the fourth, with Scott Hosmer getting the scoring started on an RBI single. Brandon Hill was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring home another run, and Keaton High, Kaden Stegent, and Tino Ramirez each brought home a run to make it a 6-1 game. 

An RBI double by Freddie Matthews got one run back for Howard Payne in the bottom half of the inning, making it a 6-2 game, but that ended up being the last scoring play of the game for the Jackets. The margin remained 6-2 until the top of the seventh, when Hill brought in another run, and the 'Roos poured on seven runs in the top of the eighth to make it a 14-2 game. That's where things would end via the run-rule, after HPU was unable to get any further runs in their final at-bats. High scored on a passed ball for the first run of the inning, and Stegent came home on a sacrifice fly by RayShawn Riley. Jake Trapani followed with a two-run homer to left, and Hill capped the scoring with an RBI before coming home himself on a passed ball.

Hill finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and Stegent, Riley, and High each had a pair of hits, while Trapani went 1-for-3 with two RBI and three runs scored. Hunter Manning came on in relief to earn the victory, pitching a pair of perfect innings. Austin College gets back into SCAC play this weekend as they host Texas Lutheran for a three-game series on Friday and Saturday at Baker Field.