Texas College upset nationally ranked NAIA powerhouse Bellevue University by the score of 4-3 this past Friday. The Steers put pressure on Bellevue’s defense as routine ground balls in the infield were subsequent throwing errors as Bellevue accounted for six errors in the game and could not handle Texas College speed out of the batter’s box.
TC opened the scoring in the second inning as three Bellevue errors plated the game’s first runs as Mark Zuniga scored on Daniel Garcia single up the middle, Cameron Phelts struck out, reached first base on a passed ball, advanced to second on a throwing error by the catcher Garcia and scored for two unearned runs.
TC starter Michael Traylor, sophomore transfer from Texas Southern threw three innings allowing 2 hits and 2 runs, no earned runs while recording three strikeouts. Traylor ran into trouble when he issued a pair of bases loaded walks that knotted the score at 2, before pitching out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the third inning.
Texas College never trailed in the game and regained the lead in the top of 4th inning. Braden Rawlinson tripled to right field and scored on Brayden Rawlinson’s single to left center for a 3-2 lead.
Bellevue tied the game up at three-apiece in the bottom of the 5th inning when Riley Baasch homered off of Jonta Brown who relieved Traylor.
TC took the lead for good in the top of the 6th inning. Jonathan Riffle reached first on a throwing error by the pitcher, advanced to second before Kylan Ricks walked. Cameron Phelts hit into a fielder’s choice, Riffle out at third. Phelts advanced to second on a wild pitch; Ricks advanced to third. Phelts advanced to third on a wild pitch; Ricks scored the unearned run for a 4-3 lead.
In the bottom of the 7th inning Bellevue would not go away quietly putting two runners on base with one out, but back to back deep fly balls to Texas College “No Fly Zone Outfield” gave the Steers the win. Joshua Chavez came in to relieve Brown and picked up the save.
TC head coach Anthony Macon stated, “it was agreat effort to keep Bellevue off the base path. We did not allow any extra chances for our opponent to score runs.”
Texas College plays No.3 Oklahoma City University in Oklahoma in a doubleheader on Saturday. The first game is at 1:00PM CST and game two starts at 3:30PM CST. Both games can be seen Live/Livestats.