HOBBS, N.M. (April 14, 2018) – The Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) Saints baseball team won one of three games against Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) opponent University of the Southwest (USW). In the first game, the Saints demolished the Mustangs 11-1, but returned for the next day to lose the doubleheader 7-8 and 4-5.

The Saints are now 19-25 overall and 11-10 in conference, while the Mustangs improve to 24-16 overall and 9-12 in conference.

The Saints are 8-6 against the Mustangs. Last year, the Saints won 4-1 and 7-0, and lost 4-5.

Head Coach Bryan Aughney commented, "Overall, we played good baseball all weekend. We hit a lot of hard-hit baseballs that went right to guys. We battled back in both games today and had our chances. It was good baseball, and we will learn from it and be ready to go down the stretch."

Game One

Russell Brown (SR/San Antonio, Texas) started the game with a walk, and Jacob Mitchell (FR/Harker Heights, Texas) reached first on a hit to right field. Brown was able to score on an error by the right fielder Jesus Chavez. A wild pitch by Aaron Higgens sent Mitchell home and the Saints took the 2-0 lead.

Jordan Hackett (SR/San Antonio, Texas) started on the mound for the Saints. His wild pitch gave Adrian Rodriguez the opportunity to come home. The Saints now led 2-1.

The Saints added another run in the second inning. Alec Martinez (FR/Corpus Christi, Texas) reached base on an error by third-baseman JC Velasco. Xavier Solis (SO/Victoria, Texas) got a hit, and Ryan Ramsey (JR/Grapevine, Texas) got to first after being hit by Higgens. Brown got to first on an error by Higgens, sending Solis home to give the Saints the 3-1 lead.

The game stayed at 3-1 through the fifth inning when the Saints added five runs. Brown walked to first, and Robert Lopez (SO/San Antonio, Texas) was hit by Higgens. Ogletree came in to pinch run for Lopez. Daniel Anciso (JR/Harlingen, Texas) was also hit by Higgens. With the bases loaded, Mitchell walked to send Brown home. Jose Diaz (SO/Pinar del Rio, Cuba) got to first on the second error by Velasquez, and Ogletree scored. Martinez got to base on a fielder's choice, giving Anciso the opportunity to score, while Diaz was forced out. Ramsey was hit by Higgens, and Matt Mihalov (SO/Conroe, Texas) walked, sending Mitchell home. Brown came back to bat, and he was walked, sending Martinez home. Higgens was replaced by Josiah Acton, and he was able to close out the inning. The Saints took the 8-1 lead.

In the seventh inning, the Saints added three more runs. Orlan Warren came in to relieve Acton. Mihalov was walked, and Brown got to base on an error by shortstop Adrian Rodriguez. Lopez singled to the outfield, and Mihalov came home. Brown was able to score on a wild throw error by the right-fielder Chavez. Anciso came in to hit a double to send Lopez home, and Anciso was caught stealing to end the inning.

The game ended with the Saints winning 11-1.

Hackett pitched all seven innings allowing four hits and one run, while walking three and striking out three.

Brown led the Saints on offense scoring three runs and adding two RBIs. Mitchell went 1-2, scoring two runs and adding one RBI.

Game Two

The teams returned to the field earlier today, and the Mustangs started the game with four runs. Ben Tingen reached first on an error by the Saints. Rodriguez hit a single, and Sam Moreno walked to first to load the bases. Chris Estrada came up to bat and hit a grand slam to give the Mustangs the 4-0 lead.

In the fourth inning, Mitchell reached first on a single, and Diaz hit a home run. The Mustangs now led 4-2.

Estrada hit another home run to start the bottom of the fourth inning. Josh Reyes also homered and the Mustangs took the 6-2 lead.

In the fifth inning, Ean Smith walked to first, and Moreno doubled to left field. Estrada singled and Smith and Moreno came home. Southwest now led 8-2.

The Saints threatened in the sixth after scoring five runs. Anciso reached first on a hit to left field, and Mitchell homered to centerfield. Brown singled, sending Mihalov and Ramsey home. Martinez got to first on an error by shortstop Rodriguez, and Ogletree scored. The Mustangs now led 8-7.

The Saints were not able to score any more runs and the game ended.

JB Martinez (JR/San Antonio, Texas) suffered the loss after pitching 4.1 innings. He allowed eight runs and six hits while striking out three.

Mitchell went 3-4, scoring two runs and adding two RBIs. Diaz went 1-4, adding one run and two RBIs. Brown went 2-4, adding two RBIs.

Game Three

Diaz started the game with a single and Anciso came home to give the Saints the 1-0 lead.

The Mustangs took over the lead to close out the first inning. Kenneth Corona singled, and Smith hit a two-run homer to give them the 2-1 lead.

OLLU tied the game in the third inning. Diaz hit a sac fly, and Brown came home. The game tied at 2-2.

The Mustangs took back the lead in the bottom of the third. Moreno hit a homer and the Mustangs now led 3-2.

Southwest added another run in the fifth inning. Moreno hit another home run to give his team the 4-2 lead.

Mihalov tripled in the sixth inning, and he scored on a hit from Brown. The Mustangs now led 4-3.

The Saints tied the game in the seventh inning. Mihalov hit a sac fly, and Anciso came home to score.

In the last inning, Ty Cook (FR/Highlands, Texas) came in to replace Triston Scherer (FR/Crosby, Texas). He threw a wild pitch and Velasco came in to score the winning run.

Scherer suffered the loss after pitching 3.1 innings. He allowed two hits and one run, while walking five.

Brown led the Saints going 2-5, adding one run and one RBI. Diaz went 1-1 and added two RBIs, and Mihalov went 1-3, adding one run and one RBI.

Up Next

The Saints will host Texas College next for a three-game Red River Athletic Conference series on April 20-21.