AUSTIN, Texas – The 16th-ranked Concordia University Texas baseball team took down No. Trinity, 5-1, in a non-conference game on Tuesday night at Tornado Field.
The Tornados (17-2), who won their eighth consecutive contest, built a 5-0 lead before winning by four runs.
Ragan Pope (1-0) threw 5.1 scoreless frames, scattering six hits and striking out four to earn the victory.
The junior left-hander was backed up by three early runs.
Concordia Texas picked up its first tally in the bottom of the first inning, as
Brandon Hollier scampered home on a passed ball.
Two frames later, the Tornados struck again with two runs.
Kyle Rodriguez hit a sacrifice fly and drove in
Cole Calder, and
Jon McManemin drew a walk with the bases loaded to push Hollier across the dish to give CTX a 3-0 advantage.
The Tigers, who outhit Concordia 10-6, had their chances collect runs in the early innings, but Pope manage to strand four runners in scoring position through the first five panels.
Overall, Trinity left 12 on the basepaths.
After Pope gave up a one-out single in the sixth, he handed the ball over to
Trey Pledger, who retired the final two hitters of the frame.
Pledger returned to the mound in the seventh and allowed two singles before being lifted in favor of
Dillon Stavinoha.
The southpaw induced a groundout to work out of the jam.
In the bottom of the stanza, the Tornados added to their lead after Rodriguez again hit a sacrifice fly, which allowed pinch runner
Race Mellman to score.
Concordia added one more tally in the eighth when Calder stole home after Hollier was caught in a rundown.
The Tigers picked up their lone run in the ninth as
Corey Holmes' attempted throw to second base on a ground ball went into center field, which allowed Nick Jewett to score from second. Trinity loaded the bases and had the tying score at the plate, but Holmes struck out Drew Butler on a 3-2 slider.
Estevan Hernandez led the Tornados with a pair of hits, including a double to lead off the seventh, while Rodriguez was 1-for-2 with two RBIs.
Kyle Bogese (4-1) was handed the loss after allowing three runs (two earned) on only hit. The right-hander also walked five, hit a batter and struck out four.
Concordia will return to action this weekend, as it hits the road for a three-game American Southwest Conference series at LeTourneau. First pitch of the series opener is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday.
How They Scored
• Concordia Texas 1, Trinity 0; Bottom 1st:
Brandon Hollier scored on a passed ball.
• Concordia Texas 2, Trinity 0; Bottom 3rd:
Kyle Rodriguez hit a sacrifice fly to center field and
Cole Calder scored from third base.
• Concordia Texas 3, Trinity 0; Bottom 3rd:
Jon McManemin drew a bases-loaded walk and
Brandon Hollier scored.
• Concordia Texas 4, Trinity 0; Bottom 7th:
Kyle Rodriguez hit a sacrifice fly to left field and
Race Mellman scored from third base.
• Concordia Texas 5, Trinity 0; Bottom 8th:
Cole Calder stole home as
Brandon Hollier was caught in a rundown between first and second base.
• Concordia Texas 5, Trinity 1; Top 9th: Nick Jewett scored from second base on a throwing error.
