Todd Ryals

Wildcats Drop Two Tough Games to Cowboys

3/24/2017 9:01:00 PM

By: LC Sports Information - Brad Welborn

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

The Louisiana College baseball team were swept in both games of Friday's doubleheader against Hardin-Simmons University at Billy Allgood Field. LC held a late lead in game one of the day, but committed two early errors in the seventh inning that spelled defeat 5-3 for the Wildcats. In game two, the pitcher's dual was decided, once again by some small ball in the seventh for the Cowboys, to give them the 2-1 win and the series over LC. The Wildcats will try and pick up a needed victory in Saturday's finale, that begins at 12 p.m. at Billy Allgood Field.

Game 1

The first game of the day got off to a fast start, for both pitchers, as LC starter Charlie Waddingham and HSU starter Jeremy Hallmark faced the minimum number of batters through the first two and a half innings. The Wildcats were finally able to put a rally together in the bottom of the third that started with a 1-out double by Deauton Delgado, his first at-bat since going down with an injury after the McMurry series at the beginning of the month. A fly ball to deep right by Dylan Keller that was dropped at the warning track allowed Delgado easily score the game's first run and put Keller at third with still just 1-out. Ashton Martin followed with a sharp single through the left side to score Keller and give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead after three innings of play.

HSU got a run back in the top of the fourth, after picking up their first hit of the game on a double down the left field line. After a failed pick off attempt allowed the runner to get to third, a single through the left side plated the run and LC's lead was cut in half, 2-1. The Cowboys scored their next run to tie the game in the top of the sixth, thanks to three hits in the inning, all singles, and back-to-back, 2-out hits to tie the game at two.

With 2-outs and a runner at second, a routine ground ball to short, went through the shortstops legs that allowed Seth Stevens to score the go-ahead run for the Wildcats with just three defensive outs to go for the win.

In the top of the seventh, the first three batters reached base on a single and back-to-back errors in left field and third base. With the bases loaded an no-out, a squeeze bunt was placed in the perfect spot to prevent the force out at home and allow Hardin-Simmons to score the tying run. The next batter found a hole through the left side of the infield to plate the go-ahead run, and another well executed squeeze bunt put the Cowboys up 5-3 just like that. LC got the tying run to the plate with 2-outs in the bottom of the seventh but could not extend the inning or the game.

Charlie Waddingham suffered his first loss of the season in a complete game performance, his second in a row, where he allowed five runs, only one of them earned, on seven hits with one strikeout. Ashton Martin went 2-for-4 with an RBI in the game and Deauton Delgado and Seth Stevens both had doubles for their only hits of the game.

Game 2

After a scoreless first inning to start the night cap of Friday's doubleheader, HSU found the first run of the game on a bases loaded ground ball to short, that was a half step away from being an inning ending double play, as the batter was called safe at first base. The Wildcats got the run back in the bottom of the inning, however, when Deauton Delgado singled to right field to score Kiefer Moore from second on the play as Delgado was thrown out trying to advance to second on the play.

The score remained tied at one through the next four inning of play as both starting pitchers prevented the opposing team's offense from gaining any momentum. Through the middle innings of the game starter Jacob Buchanan limited the Cowboys to one hit and three total base runners, while HSU starter Garrett Johnston held the Wildcats to two hits and two total base runners.

In the seventh inning, HSU used small ball to take the lead over the Wildcats. A bunt single started the inning, which was followed by a sacrifice bunt to advance the runner to second. A wild pitch put him at third and a base hit to left put the Cowboys on top for the second time in the game by a run, 2-1.

In each of the final three innings, the Wildcats would get the tying run on base and in scoring position, but each time, were left wanting the clutch hit. In the seventh, Walt Aldridge was left at third base, on a ground ball to third. In the eighth, Zane Corbell made it to second base with 1-out, but was left there after a foul out and strikeout to end the inning. In the ninth, a leadoff walk was erased on a 6-4-3 ground ball double play that squelched any LC momentum.

Jacob Buchanan suffered his second 2-1 loss of the season, and fourth overall, going 7.2 innings allowing two runs, one of them earned, on five hits with three strikeouts. Evan Mativi pitched the final 1.1 innings without allowing a hit or a run with one strikeout. Ashton Martin (2-4) and Kiefer Moore (2-2) both had two hits in the game for LC, and Deauton Delgado's only hit gave LC their only run of the game.

The Wildcats will try and salvage the three game series with Hardin-Simmons on Saturday afternoon with first pitched scheduled for 12 p.m. LC will take to the road next weekend for another American Southwest Conference series at Sul Ross State University. Stay connected to Louisiana College baseball all season at www.lcwildcats.net, following @LC_bsb on Twitter, and liking LC Athletics on Facebook.

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