Baseball sweeps Wiley College at home

Game One
HOUSTON- In game one of a double-header against the Wiley College Wildcats, the Texas Southern Tigers baseball team won 15-5 at MacGregor Park on Wednesday afternoon.

The Tigers got on the board first, scoring a run in the second inning.  After keeping the Wildcats scoreless in the top of the third, TSU erupted for eight runs in the bottom half of the frame to take a 9-0 lead.

Wiley College plated two runners in the fourth inning to cut into the lead.  Both teams were held scoreless in the fifth frame.  In the sixth, the Tigers scored three runs to push their lead to 12-2. 

The Wildcats extended the game by scoring three runs in the seventh inning to avoid getting mercy-ruled.  The Tigers responded by scoring another run and in the eighth to end the game early with a 15-5 victory. 

TSU starting pitcher, Ryan Rios, had a strong game on the mound.  He pitched seven innings, scattering nine hits and giving up five runs (only two of which were earned).  Most impressively, he struck out 13 Wildcat batters while only walking one. 

The Tigers got it done at the plate, as well.  TSU batters were patient all game, waiting for a good pitch to hit.  This patience was rewarded as the Tigers drew 13 walks.  Every TSU hitter in the ballgame drew at least one walk and scored at least one run. 

Tiger third baseman, Blake Hicks, had a big game against the Wildcats.  Hicks went 3-4, with a deep homerun and scored three runs.  Shortstop Horace Leblanc added three hits while catcher, Charles Guillory, had three RBIs.

TSU will look to sweep the double-header as they take on Wiley College in the night game. Pitcher, Ryan Hawkins, is set to start the game for the Tigers.   Come and cheer on your Tigers at MacGregor Park at 5:00 pm.
   
Game Two
HOUSTON- The Texas Southern Tigers baseball team completed the double-header sweep in game two against Wiley College Wildcats by the score of 8-6 on Wednesday night at MacGregor Park.

The game went back and forth, all night.  The Tigers struck first, scoring two runs in the first inning and one in the second to take a 3-0 lead into the third inning.  Wiley College answered in the third frame, scoring two runs. 

TSU had a response of their own in the bottom half of the inning, plating three runners to go up, 6-2.

The Wildcats would not quit and scored three runs in the top of the fourth to cut the deficit to one run.  The Tigers again answered, scoring a run in the bottom of the fourth inning to push their lead to 7-5. 

Wiley College threatened in the top of the sixth, scoring a run and had runners on base.  TSU minimized the damage, however, and the Wildcats would come no closer.  The Tigers would add an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth to take an 8-6 lead. 

TSU relief pitcher, Jaime Vasquez set down Wiley College's lineup in order in the ninth to end the game. 

Ryan Hawkins got the win for the Tigers.  The right-hander pitched six innings, giving up 10 hits and six earned runs.  He struck out eight Wildcat hitters.  Jaime Vasquez locked the game down in relief, pitching three innings, giving up 1 hit and no runs.  He also chipped in three strikeouts. 

Offensively for TSU, Joel Rosario had a big game.  The first baseman went 2-2 with three RBIs.  Richard Alamo and Horace Leblanc added two RBIs each for the guys in maroon and silver.
 
With the win, the Tigers improve to 10-13 and are on a three-game winning streak.  The team will be on the road for the next 11 games, starting with a series in Baton Rouge, Louisiana against rival Southern University. 

The first game of the series will be on April 1.