Back at home for the first time in nearly two weeks, the Sul Ross State baseball team took Game 1 over the Hardin-Simmons University Cowboys in dramatic fashion with a walk-off RBI single by
Primo Vasquez to claim the 5-4 victory Friday afternoon at Kokernot Field.
As mist and drizzle pushed into the area, Game 2 was postponed until Saturday, March 16 at 1 p.m. CST. The score was tied 5-5 in the top of the seventh as the Cowboys had runners at first and third with one out.
>> GAME 1:
Hardin-Simmons went up 1-0 in the top of the first after an RBI double by Baylan Vaughan.
The Lobos tied up the game after Esteven Ortiz hit a one-out single in the bottom of the third and
Peyten Kennard drove him in with a double down the right field line.
Sul Ross State went ahead 2-1 on a solo home run by
Lee Kubosh in the fourth.
Hardin-Simmons was held scoreless for three-straight innings until Luke Kirkbride tied up the score with a solo home run to left in the top of the fifth.
Gannon Azios gave the Cowboys a 4-2 lead in the top of the sixth with a two RBI double to right center.
The Lobos cut the deficit to one run on a leadoff solo home run by Kennard in the bottom half of the sixth.
Hardin-Simmons left two runners stranded in the top of the seventh as
Sam Letz got the defense off the field with a strikeout of Jett Forrest.
To start the bottom of the seventh,
Alvaro Hernandez reached first after being hit by a pitch.
Aaron Morales later reached on a fielder's choice.
With one out, Ortiz ripped an RBI double down the right field line to tie the game.
Carsen Thor was intentionally walked. Kennard stepped up and hit a single to right as Ortiz was thrown out at the plate for the second out.
Vasquez then delivered the RBI single down the right field line to end the game on a high note.
>> RECORDS: Sul Ross State (3-14); Hardin-Simmons (7-10)
>> GAME NOTES:
- Kennard went 4 for 4 with two singles, a double, a home run and two RBI.
- Ortiz finished 2 for 4 with a single, a double and an RBI.
- Vasquez had two singles to go 2 for 3 with an RBI.
- Kubosh went 1 for 2 with the solo home run.
- Corbin Dube tallied a single in the second to go 1 for 2.
- The Lobos had 10 hits.
- Gage Cobb was tabbed with the no-decision after he struck out six batters in 5.1 innings pitched.
- Letz improved to 1-0 after he tallied two strikeouts and allowed one hit in 1.2 innings of work.