'Roos Sweep Doubleheader with Blackburn

SHERMAN, Texas – The Austin College baseball team picked up a pair of wins on Friday night against visiting Blackburn College, routing the Beavers 14-2 in game one before getting a walk-off 6-5 victory in extra innings in game two. The 'Roos are now 5-5 overall on the year. 

The result of game two is under protest, however, with the final play being reviewed to determine whether all runners completed the play. If the on-field ruling is overturned, the at-bat will be replayed tomorrow prior to the third and final game of the series between the 'Roos and Beavers.

In game one, the 'Roos jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first with Brett Taff doubling home a pair of runs before coming around to score later in the inning, but Blackburn got two runs back in the fourth and the fifth to cut it to a 3-2 game. However, Taff singled home a run to kick off a seven-run fifth inning that also included a three-run home from Justin Alphonse as Austin College took a commanding 10-2 lead.

The lead would grow to 11-2 on a sacrifice fly by Nick Flynn, and in his very first college at-bat, Max Dodd belted a three-run homer to cap off the scoring and give the 'Roos a 14-2 win.

Christian Thomas got the win for the 'Roos, tossing a complete game and surrendering two runs on six hits. Bennett Reagan went 3-for-3, and Taff finished 2-for-3 with three RBI.

In game two, Blackburn took a 1-0 lead in the second on a solo homer by Ry Clark, and after Austin College evened things up in the bottom half of the inning on a sacrifice fly by Alphonse, Ryan Steen blasted a three-run homer to put the Beavers ahead 4-1 after three innings.

The 'Roos battled back with three runs in the fourth, with Cody Goggins scoring on a wild pitch and Oscar Gonzalez and Austin Dudley each drove in a run. Josh Boring's sacrifice fly in the fifth put Austin College ahead 5-4, but Blackburn answered back in the sixth and the game would head to extra innings.

Blackburn had the bases loaded with only one out, but Taff came on and induced a shallow fly ball and recorded a looking strikeout to work the 'Roos out of the jam. Austin College loaded the bases in the bottom half of the inning, and with two outs, Wyche hit a single to center and Gonzalez came home for, at the moment, is the game-winner.

Taff gets the win in relief, tossing 0.2 innings, and Gonzalez and Wyche both finished the game with a pair of hits.

Austin College and Blackburn will close out the series tomorrow with first pitch set for noon.

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