Vidato’s Big Night Fuels Comeback Win Over Prairie View A&M

HOUSTON, Texas – Down 4-0 after the top of the seventh, Texas Southern University’s baseball team got offensive fire power from the unlikeliest of heroes in Jordan Vidato batting out of the ninth spot in the lineup as the Tigers stormed back for an 8-4 victory over Prairie View A&M in the Inaugural Cactus Jack HBCU Classic at Minute Maid Park.

Vidato, who was 1-for-2 in the team’s season opener the day prior, would finish the second day of the event going 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and three driven in.

After PVAMU (1-1) touched up TSU (1-1) starter Abraham Deleon for four runs on five hits to go along with six strikeouts and a walk during six innings on the bump, Vidato got the Tigers on the scoreboard in the seventh with no outs when his seeing-eye single to left field plated Chase Cromer. Two batters later, C.J. Castillo grounded into a double play that allowed Michael Goudeau to score just moments before Gabriel Vazquez scored on a wild pitch. Jeffry Mercado then stepped up to the plate and promptly planted a pitch well over the left field wall to give TSU a 5-4 advantage.

Mateo Lamas stepped up huge when called in from the bullpen shutting down the Panthers over the final two innings with five strikeouts.

Vidato homered on a one-out fly ball to left field that also scored Roderick Coffee, who earlier in the inning collected a double. Castillo then drove a double to left field that would plate Daalen Adderley.

Castro picked up the win for TSU going one inning giving up a hit and a walk while Lamas recorded the save. Gent Busch was credited with the loss and a blown save after 1.2 innings giving up five runs on four hits with one walk, one strikeout and a pair of home runs.
 
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The third and final day of the Inaugural Cactus Jack HBCU Classic at Minute Maid Park will conclude when TSU takes on Southern University in the nightcap at 7 p.m. CT.