SHERMAN, Texas – The Austin College baseball team gave up a late lead in game one to fall 5-3, but the 'Roos bounced back to earn a walk-off victory in game two by a final score of 5-4 over visiting Schreiner University on Friday night. The 'Roos are now 6-16 overall and 4-7 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play with the split.
The 'Roos took advantage of a throwing error in the second inning of game one to jump on top 2-0 over the Mountaineers, with Will Schommer and Dylan Day both eventually coming around to score in the frame. Schreiner quickly got both runs back in the third, with Sam Pistrui scoring and then Jayme Kidder doubling home the tying run to square things at 2-2.
Gus Daniel's RBI double in the bottom of the sixth pushed Austin College ahead 3-2, but an error by the 'Roos opened the door to the tying run coming home in the eighth, and two more errors in the ninth allowed Schreiner to plate a pair of runs and make it a 5-3 game. Austin College was unable to get anything going in the bottom half of the inning as the Mountaineers held on for the win.
Schommer went 3-for-4 in the loss to pace the 'Roos offensively, while Braley Williams took the loss in relief after surrendering two runs – one earned – despite not allowing a hit in 1.1 innings of work. Pistrui went 3-for-4 to lead Schreiner, while Charlie Stewart tossed a scoreless ninth to earn the win.
In game two, Mychael Parish came out dealing early on and worked a no-hitter into the sixth inning before a base hit broke up his bid. In the meantime, Austin College was able to take a quick 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by Chance Hatchel, and Daniel doubled home two more runs in the fifth to make it a 3-0 game.
However, a pair of errors in the sixth opened the door for a four run inning by the Mountaineers in the seventh and Schreiner surged ahead 4-3, with three of those runs winding up being unearned. The Schreiner lead didn't last long though, as Daniel singled through the left side to bring home the tying run in the seventh and make it a 4-4 game as the teams went to the ninth.
Parish set Schreiner down in order in the top half of the inning, and in the bottom of the ninth Todd Takabuki singled to left, and after advancing to second on a wild pitch, moved over to third on a base hit by Daniel. With two outs and extra innings looming, Takabuki came home on another wild pitch to give the 'Roos a 5-4 victory.
Parish tossed a complete game to earn the win, allowing four runs – only one earned – on seven hits with eight strikeouts against two walks. Daniel finished 3-for-5 with three RBI and Thomas Oberg went 3-for-4 and scored twice. Blake Rowan took the loss for Schreiner after surrendering one run on two hits in 1.2 innings in relief.
Austin College and Schreiner will finish up the three game conference series tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Baker Field.
Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.