Villalobos Belts Two Homers In Season Opener

Jose Villalobos belted two homers as the Texas Southern University baseball team opened the 2024 campaign defeating Jackson State, 9-5 in the Cactus Jack Classic Friday evening at Minute Maid Park.

Jackson State (0-1) struck first with a run in the first inning and Texas Southern (1-0) quickly responded  plating a run in the bottom of the second.

In the bottom of the third, Chase Cromer doubled to right field and advanced to third as Nin Burns, ll grounded out to first base. Villalobos homered to left field, bringing in two runs to put the Tigers up 3-1.

TSU extended the lead with a run at the bottom of the fourth as Michael Goudeau walked and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Shanon Martin. Rafael Gross tripled to center field to score Goudeau.

JSU scored four runs on three hits at the top of the fifth to take a 5-4 lead. TSU plated a run at the bottom of the frame to tie scoring as Jason Lazo was hit by a pitch and advanced on a Villalobos single to right field. After a JSU pitcher switch up, Lazo scored on a sacrifice fly by Jaden Jones.

Villalobos hit his second homer in the bottom of the sixth, bringing in Burns, ll for two RBIs.

Texas Southern sealed the game  with one more run in bottom of the seventh, scoring Alford.

CJ  Castillo worked 4.1 innings and was tagged for four runs on three hits, walked three, and struck out two.

Adolf Castillo worked in relief and picked up the save in four solid innings of work. He fanned two and walked one.

Inside The Numbers
* Texas Southern scored nine runs on nine hits, left eight on base, and committed two errors.
* Jose Villalobos went 4-for-3, hit two homers, with four RBIs and scored three runs to lead the Texas Southern offense.
* Rafael Gross registered two hits and registered two RBIs.
*Alford Dalton went 4-for-2 with one RBI.
*Jaden Jones and Chase Cromer each recorded one hit.

Up Next
Texas Southern will take on Prairie View in the Cactus Jack Classic on Saturday at Minute Maid Park at 7 p.m.