PINE BLUFF, Ark. – TSU overcame a pair of early deficits before exploding for 14 runs over the final four innings in a 17-6 run-rule win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Friday.
UAPB jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the first inning but the Tigers regrouped and scored three times in the third as Jeremy Almaguer hit a two-RBI single followed by Rueben Bennevendo's RBI single as they trailed 4-3. UAPB answered with two in the bottom half to up the lead to 6-3 but TSU tied it in the fourth as Tyrese Clayborne doubled home a run while Johnathon Thomas drove in a run and stole home.
TSU kept the pressure on as Clayborne, Thomas and Gabriel Vasquez drove in runs in the fifth for a 10-6 lead. Starter CJ Castillo settled into a groove as UAPB remained scoreless while the offense continued to give him help with a seven-run seventh led by Almaguer's two-RBI single and RBIs from Justin Cooper and Bennevendo.
The Tigers forced a UAPB pitching change after a Jordan Vidato walk which was followed by Roderick Coffee's walk. Jeremy Gaines broke the floodgates with a three-RBI triple which triggered the run-rule as Adolf Castillo closed the game out.
Almaguer finished 3-for-5 with four RBI while Clayborne, Thomas and Bennevendo had two hits. Gaines had three RBI while TSU also applied pressure on the bas paths with nine stolen bases. CJ Castillo struck out six in six innings of action.
The series resumes at 2 p.m. tomorrow.
