This past Tuesday, February 20th, Huston-Tillotson played the Texas Wesleyan Rams, the No. 21 ranked team in the NAIA Baseball Coaches’ Top 25 – Preseason Poll. Huston-Tillotson rallied late to secure a walk-off win in the first game, 12-11.
Texas Wesleyan put up a five-spot lead after the second-inning to lead 5-0. Huston-Tillotson would get on the score board with a run, down 5-1. Texas Wesleyan would increase its lead to 6-1 in the top of the fourth-inning.
Huston-Tillotson rallied with a six-run fourth inning to take a one run lead 7-6. The Rams started the inning with a Robbie Brue single to right field, Zech Robichaux singled to right field moving Brue to second base. Brian Gardner doubled to left center scoring Brue, Robichaux advanced to third. After Josh Wilk was called out on strikes, Luke Vizcarra walked, Noah Alvarez reached on a dropped fly ball, Robichaux scored, and Luke Vizcarra advanced to second; Gardner advanced to third. After Texas Wesleyan made a pitching change, the Rams would plate additional runs. The big blow was a two run double off Adam Sheehan’s bat giving the Rams a one-run lead.
Texas Wesleyan would knot the game at 7-7 in the top of the six-inning. They would increase the score by adding four runs in the top of the seventh inning taking a 11-7 lead.
In their final at bats, Huston-Tillotson rallied in the bottom of the seventh inning. Brue started the rally off with a single to center field. Robichaux walked, moving Brue to second. Danny Hernandez pinch ran for Robichaux. Gardner singled to center field; Brue scored; Hernandez advanced to third. After Wilk struck out for the second time in the game, Hernandez scored Gardner and advanced to second on a passed ball putting the Rams down by two 11 to 9.
With two outs and the bases loaded, the Rams plated two additional runs on a walked batter making it a one run ball game. With the bases still juiced, a wild pitch tied the game at 11 all. Alex Worden walked to reload the bases. Brue singled through the right side for the walk off 12 to 11 come from behind win upsetting the No. 21 ranked NAIA team in the nation.
For Huston-Tillotson, Brue was 4-for-5, 2 runs, a triple, and 1 runs batted in. Gardner was 2-for-3, 2 runs, a double, and 2 runs batted in, Sheehan 2-for-4 at the plate with 2 runs scored, and 2 runs batted in. Alvarez went 1-for-1 with a 2-run home run to center field in the third inning.
Rams pitcher Rowan Guerra (W,1-0) gave up 5 hits and 5 runs but was able to get the win in relief.
In game two, Huston-Tillotson lost 9-7. They are 6-4 on the young season.