AUSTIN, Texas – Ragan Pope and
Justin Traxler combined on a five-hit shutout, and the 10th-ranked Concordia University Texas baseball team logged a 1-0 victory over LeTourneau in the American Southwest Conference series opener on Friday night at Tornado Field.
The Tornados (19-4, 14-1 ASC), who have won nine straight and 15 of their last 16 games, were out-hit 5-3, but plated the lone run of the contest in the fourth inning.
Pope (3-1) worked five scoreless panels, allowing just one hit while striking out six to earn the victory. Trailer came on in the sixth and hurled the final four stanzas, giving up four hits and punching out six to earn his third save of the season.
Concordia Texas broke the scoring seal in the fourth.
After
Michael Evan led off the inning with an infield single, he was moved to second on
Connor Bertsch's groundout.
Race Mellman then flied out and
Gunnar Hollier drew a walk.
Gareth Hutton then blooped an 0-1 offering from YellowJackets starter Cody Whitley into left-center field, allowing Evan to cross the plate.
Traxler was forced to work out of a few jams to secure the win.
In the eighth, David Perkins hit a one-out double to left field. Brayden Rawlinson, who pinch ran for Perkins, moved to third base on Dillon Yates' groundout. Traxler then induced a ground ball off the bat of Ryan Bertram to end the panel.
LeTourneau (8-6, 6-3 ASC) had back-to-back singles to start the ninth. With runners on the corners, Traxler struck out Jon Lewis, who entered as a pinch hitter. Kyle Jacobs then was caught heading home on a missed suicide squeeze by Bryce Henry. Traxler ended the game by fanning Henry.
Whitley (1-3) allowed one run on three hits to take the loss. The left-hander also walked five and struck out five in the complete-game effort.
The series will conclude Saturday with a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
