CLEBURNE, Texas - The Concordia Texas baseball team overpowered LeTourneau by a score of 17-4 for a eight-inning, run-rule victory in the second round of the SCAC Tournment.
Samuel Ortiz homered twice and
Jake Runnells pitched 6.1 scoreless innings at La Moderna Field on Saturday. The 17 runs scored by the Tornados marked the most by any team in an SCAC Tournament game since 2013.
The Tornados set the tone immediately in the first inning as Ortiz launched a solo home run on the first pitch of the game, and a second run came across later in the frame.
Concordia broke the game open in the second, plating six runs behind a combination of walks and timely hits. Louis Alonzo drove in a run with a single, Kalen Clark & Landon Hyle both followed with a RBI-walks. Jett Warner and Jake Townsend each delivered RBI hits, and Carson Riley capped the inning with a sacrifice fly to make it 8-0.
After LeTourneau answered with a grand slam in the bottom half, Ortiz struck again in the third with his second home run of the game to extend the lead to 9-4. Concordia continued to add on in the sixth, scoring twice as Warner and Townsend were each hit by pitches with the bases loaded to bring in runs. In the seventh, Clark delivered an RBI double to push the lead further.
The Tornados put the game out of reach in the eighth with a five-run inning. Warner tripled to start the rally, Townsend followed with an RBI double, and Logan Smith added another RBI double. Concordia later capitalized on a wild pitch and RBI hits from Clark and Hyle to cap the scoring at 17 runs.
Concordia continued to apply pressure as they produced runs in six out of the eight innings to put the game out of reach. The lineup produced up and down the order. Concordia totaled 18 hits and 15 RBIs, consistently capitalizing on scoring opportunities throughout the game.
After LeTourneau responded with four runs in the second, Runnells shut the door out of the bullpen. He tossed 6.1 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits while striking out five to earn the win and stabilize the game.
Box Score Standouts
Samuel Ortiz 2-5, 3 R, 2 HR, 2 RBI
Kalen Clark 4-5, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2B
Louis Alonzo 3-3, 4 R, RBI, 2 BB
Landon Hyle 3-5, RBI, 2B
Jett Warner 2-5, 2 RBI, 3B
Jake Townsend 2-3, 3 RBI, 2 2B
Logan Smith 1-4, 2 R, RBI, 2B
Jake Runnells W, 6.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 5 K
Concordia Texas will next take on McMurry with a spot in the SCAC Championship Series on the line. First pitch is scheduled for 11am.
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the CTX softball program, follow us on social media (@ctxathletics) and visit athletics.concordia.edu.
