'Roos Split High-Scoring Doubleheader with CTX

SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College baseball team split a high-scoring Saturday doubleheader against Concordia University-Texas at Baker Field, taking the first game in a 15-10 slugfest before dropping the series finale 16-4. With the split, the 'Roos move to 9-12 overall on the season and 9-9 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play, while Concordia shifts to 15-8 overall and 11-7 in the SCAC.

In the opener, the 'Roos offense erupted for 15 runs on 13 hits, doing the bulk of their damage during a massive seven-run second inning. Desmond Squalls paced Austin College at the plate, going 2-for-5 with four runs batted in. Caleb Staggs, Jayden Ayala-Hinojosa, and Jorge Villalobos each added two hits and drove in a pair of runs, with Villalobos crossing the plate three times.

Trailing 2-0 entering the bottom of the second, the 'Roos quickly answered by batting around to take a commanding 7-2 lead. The frame featured RBI singles from Staggs, Kaden Stegent, Squalls, Ayala-Hinojosa, and Carlos Michinaux, as well as a run-scoring hit-by-pitch drawn by Tripp Thoms. Austin College tacked on four more runs in the third, capped by a two-run single to center field from Squalls.

Blake Skipworth earned the victory on the mound for the 'Roos, navigating six innings and striking out seven while allowing four earned runs on seven hits. Concordia stayed in the game thanks to the long ball, getting home runs from Kalen Clark, Landon Hyle, and Jake Townsend. Hyle finished 4-for-5 with three RBIs for the visitors, while Townsend brought home three.

The script flipped in the nightcap, as Concordia's offense generated 20 hits to secure a 16-4 victory and salvage the split. The Tornados jumped out to a 4-2 lead in the first inning, powered by a solo home run from Clark and a three-run shot from Townsend. They put the game out of reach with a six-run fourth inning, highlighted by a three-run blast from Hyle and a two-run single off the bat of Gavin Caldwell.

Austin College got on the board early in game two when Michinaux delivered a first-inning RBI single that also resulted in a second run scoring on a throwing error. Adan Escalante added a sacrifice fly in the sixth, and Cutter Livermore launched a solo home run to left field in the seventh to cap the scoring for the 'Roos. Squalls remained hot at the plate, finishing the second game 3-for-5 to cap off a strong individual day.

Gavin Brady took the loss for Austin College, allowing eight earned runs over three and two-thirds innings. Gavin Voth picked up the win for Concordia, scattering two hits and striking out six over four scoreless innings of relief.