Wiley College pitchers Joe O’Bryant Jr. and Isaac Burciaga had strong performances and the Wildcats had timely hits to defeat the University of Houston-Victoria 2-1 for their first victory of the season Saturday at Riverside Stadium.
O’Bryant held the Jaguars to a run on seven hits in six innings pitched. He walked one and struck out two. In the first three innings, he retired nine straight hitters. He stranded runners in scoring position in the fifth and sixth innings. Burciaga only allowed a walk and struck out four in three innings to earn the save.
“They pitched like champs,” head coach Kendrick Biggs said. “They made the batters work and controlled the game.”
Biggs went with a completely different lineup in the second game of the doubleheader. With one out in the first, Marquis Kuykendall singled to first. Daniel Cox advanced him to second after being hit by a pitch. An error scored Kuykendall and gave Wiley College its first lead of the series.
Houston-Victoria (6-5, 2-1) tied the game in the fourth inning. Zach Lee tripled to right field with two outs. Hayden Leopold walked and got caught in a rundown between first and second, which allowed Lee to score.
Wiley College (1-11-1, 1-2) got the lead back immediately. Julian Lopez led off the sixth with a single to shortstop. A passed ball advanced him to second. Tre Wallace moved him to third with a sacrifice bunt. Kuykendall picked up his second hit to bring home Lopez.
The Jaguars threatened with two outs. Lee singled to short and Leopold doubled to right-center. O’Bryant got a fly out to end the inning.
“We are a young team,” Biggs said. “I’ve been telling the guys to buy in, keep working and good things will happen.”
The Wildcats dropped the second game of the series 8-2. They allowed six runs in the first three innings. Wiley College got on the board in the sixth inning. Trey Perkins led off with a single. Allan Mendoza extended his hitting streak to five games with a single to center. Jacob Perez loaded the bases after he was hit by a pitch. James Martinez drove in Perkins with a walk.
The Jaguars added two runs in the bottom of the sixth. The Wildcats added a run in the seventh. Colby Chilek reached on an error by the shortstop. Bryce Garrett courtesy ran and advanced to third on Perkins’ single. A ground ball by Julian Rosales brought home Garrett.
Jalen Porter made his third start and went four innings. He allowed six runs on five hits, walked five, hit one and struck out three. Dante Enrriquez tossed the last two innings, giving up two runs on two hits, walked one, hit one and struck out two.
Wiley College will continue its road trip with a doubleheader at National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I school Texas Southern University Tuesday at 1 p.m.
FRIDAY HOUSTON-VICTORIA 4, WILEY COLLEGE 1
In his second start on the mound, Roman Sorrell pitched seven innings – which is the longest by a Wildcat starting pitcher this season. Only one of the three runs he allowed were earned. He held the Jaguars scoreless in four innings, retiring the side in the second and sixth.
At the plate, the Wildcats were unable to string hits together as they only picked up five. They grounded into three double plays. Wiley College had runners in scoring position in the third and ninth innings. It scored its lone run in the sixth inning. With two outs, Jacob Perez was hit by the pitch. Jaylon Burrell hit the ball to deep center for a triple and his eighth run batted in this season, which leads the team. He also singled in the ninth inning, which brought the tying run to the plate.