Baseball Speeds Past UAPB With All-Around Effort

TSU scored nine runs over the final three innings and stole 14 bases to pull away and capture the series against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sunday at MacGregor Park.
 
A UAPB error in the first allowed Johnathon Thomas to reach base and Thomas made UAPB pay as he moved over on a sac before scoring on Jeremy Gaines’ RBI single. Gabe Vasquez hit a single and a UAPB fielding error allowed Gaines to up the lead to 2-0. Jeremy Almaguer closed the scoring out with an RBI groundout for the 3-0 lead.
 
UAPB closed the gap to 3-2 in the second with a two-run homer but TSU earned the runs back in the bottom frame as Thomas scored on a wild pitch followed by back-to-back walks which scored Justin Cooper and Gaines for the 6-2 lead. Tyrese Clayborne homered in the bottom of the third for the 7-2 lead but UAPB fought back with three runs in the fourth for a 7-5 margin. UAPB had a runner on in the fifth but reliever Adolf Castillo recorded a big strikeout to preserve the lead.
 
Jeremy Almaguer’s RBI single in the sixth scored Gaines for an 8-5 lead but UAPB hit an RBI triple to draw within 8-6 in the top of the seventh. Thomas would hit a solo homer in the bottom frame and TSU continued to add to its totals as Vasquez hit an RBI double which scored Gaines.
 
TSU broke the game open and triggered the run-rule in the eighth as Thomas drove in two RBI and stole home. Justin Cooper scored on a wild pitch and Jeremy Almaguer put the icing on the cake with a two-RBI single to end the game.
 
Thomas finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and four runs scored while also stealing four bases. Gaines went 2-for-3 with five runs, three walks and an RBI while Vasquez and Almaguer both had two hits. Almaguer also had a team-high five RBI. Adolf Castillo picked up the win in relief while A.J. Winger came on in relief to earn his first save of the year as the staff combined for 10 strikeouts.
 
TSU is back in action on Tuesday at Tarleton State for a 6:30 p.m. start.