Early Errors Prove Too Costly for 'Roo Baseball

The Austin College baseball team committed four errors in the first two innings, leading to six early runs for visiting Castleton State College and the 'Roos were unable to make up the difference in a 9-7 loss on Sunday afternoon. The 'Roos are now 1-7 overall this season with the loss.

The Spartans jumped out to a 5-0 lead after the top of the first as three wild throws opened the door for a big inning, with four of the five runs unearned. Another error in the second let Castleton make it a 6-0 game, but the 'Roos were finally able to get on the board in the bottom of the third when Gus Daniel drove in Will Schommer and Marcos Molina doubled home Daniel Keene to make it 6-2.

Keene added a sacrifice fly in the fourth to make it 6-3, but Castleton scored twice in the fifth to push it back to a five run deficit. The 'Roos got those two runs back in the bottom half of the inning however as two errors for the Spartans allowed Austin College to cut it to an 8-5 game. Austin College loaded the bases in the seventh, and Daniel Keene tripled to dead center to score a pair of runs, but Schommer was gunned down at the plate after trying to score from first to keep it an 8-7 game.

That would be as close as it would get though as Nick Swahn homered to lead off the eighth for Castleton, and the 'Roos were shut down in the final two innings.

Keene went 2-for-4 with three RBI to pace the 'Roos offensively and Patrick Renz went 2-for-2 with two runs scored. Todd Takabuki took the loss after surrendering five runs, only one earned, on three hits in 1.0 innings to open the game. Brett Moody was outstanding in relief, striking out six batters in 4.0 innings with one run allowed.

Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.

About Austin College

Austin College is a leading national independent residential liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas. Founded in 1849, making it the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original charter and name, the college is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA). Recognized nationally for academic excellence in the areas of international education, pre-professional training, and leadership studies, Austin College is one of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope's influential book Colleges that Change Lives.