TLU Uses Big Ninth Inning to Top 'Roo Baseball

SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College baseball team took an early lead over visiting Texas Lutheran and found themselves even at four runs apiece heading into the ninth, but the Bulldogs plated five in the top of the ninth to hand the 'Roos a 9-4 defeat on Friday evening at Baker Field.

The 'Roos jumped on top 1-0 in the bottom of the first as Jake Trapani brought home Scott Hosmer on an infield grounder, and that remained the score until the fourth when the Bulldogs got an unearned run to even things up. Texas Lutheran added another run in the fifth to take a 2-1 lead, but in the bottom of the seventh, Trapani singled home a run and Asher Thompson put the 'Roos on top 3-2 with a single down the rightfield line.

That lead was short-lived, however, as Texas Lutheran's Tyler Post doubled home two runs to make it 4-3. Hosmer managed to get the tying run across in the bottom half of the inning to make it 4-4, but in the top of the ninth, the Bulldogs erupted for five runs to take a commanding 9-4 lead and Austin College was unable to mount a late rally. Trapani went 2-for-4 with two RBI and got a no-decision on the mound after giving up three runs on six hits in 7.0 innings of work, while Hunter Manning absorbed the loss, surrendering five runs on four hits in the ninth.

Austin College and the Bulldogs were wrap up their weekend series on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at noon.