Tigers Flash All-Around Effort In 11-1 Win Over Arkansas-Pine Bluff

The opening game of the weekend conference series between Texas Southern and Arkansas-Pine Bluff was called after seven innings as TSU scored early and often for an 11-1 win Friday evening.

With both teams tied at 1-1 heading into the bottom of the second inning, the Tigers awakened their bats and proceeded to score nine unanswered runs for the rest of the game. 

Among the Tigers’ noteworthy plays from the batter’s box were three home runs against UAPB starter Joel Barker in 4.1 innings. The team had not hit a home run heading since opening weekend.

Oscar Ponce opened the scoring for Texas Southern with his solo homer to left-center field in the bottom of the first inning. He was followed by another solo shot, this time by Dean Salazar, in the bottom third. Two innings later in the fifth, Jordan Vidato whipped a three-run blast to left and made it 10-1 for the home team.

One of UAPB’s three errors led to a score in favor of TSU with it happening in the bottom of the fourth when a Dean Salazar reach on a missed grab of a soft ground ball by the opposing second baseman allowed Jordan Vidato to scamper home from third base.

Altogether, five TSU batters in the lineup garnered multiple hits in the shortened game. Moreover, eight members of the team’s offense reached base and scored a run against their conference opponents.

First baseman Oscar Ponce had a 3-for-5 outing with a home run attached to his line. Second baseman Tyrese Clayborne collected as many hits as his infield teammate on 3-for-4 batting, with two runs scored. His performance consisted of him recording a single, double, and triple and was a homer shy from achieving the cycle.

Center fielder Jordan Vidato tallied two hits (one of them being a home run), two runs, one walk, one stolen base, and three RBIs–a career-high. Right fielder Avery Chatman played his SWAC debut on a high note with his two hits, two scored runs, and one stolen base. Catcher Michael Goudeau made two base hits that converted into two RBIs and two scored runs.

Starting pitcher Kam Fields picked up the seven-inning complete-game win over UAPB by striking out nine batters and allowing only three hits, one earned run, and two walks. His decision marked the first time since March 10, 2020 (13-2 over Huston-Tillotson) where a TSU pitcher pitched a complete game for the win

Due to possible inclement weather on Sunday, Texas Southern will conclude their series against Pine Bluff on Saturday, March 13 with a doubleheader in MacGregor Park that begins at 1 p.m.