STERLINGTON, LA. (May 7, 2022) – The No. 3-seed Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) baseball team defeated No. 7-seed Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) in the consolation bracket of the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) Baseball  Championship Tournament. The Saints improve to 31-23 overall while the Gold Nuggets end the season at 19-25.

Head Coach Bryan Aughney said, "We found a way to win. We didn't play our best baseball, but we stuck with it and found a way. I'm very proud of Trey Ramirez III (SR/Donna, Texas) and Jacob Mitchell (SR/Harker Heights, Texas) as they both stepped up when we needed them. This time of year, it's about surviving and advancing."

History

The Saints were 2-1 against the Gold Nuggets prior to the game.

Basics

Mitchell continued his impressive season by putting the Saints up 3-0 in the first inning with a home run that scored Jacob Montejano (JR/San Antonio, Texas) and Robert Arredondo (SR/Corpus Christi, Texas). The Gold Nuggets scored a run in the bottom of the first, but the Saints increased their lead in the second inning. Montejano singled to left field that scored Arredondo and Sebastian Ledezma (FR/Los Fresnos, Texas). Xavier shrunk the Saints lead to only one run in the fifth inning after plating three runs. Mitchell took the mound in relief of Ramirez III in the sixth inning. He struck out four batters and didn't allow a run to seal the Saints 5-4 victory.

Ramirez III earned the win after pitching five innings with two strikeouts and three earned runs. Arredondo and Mitchell both had multi-hit games and Mitchell totaled three RBIs.

Up next

The Saints will play the loser of No. 4-seed Louisiana Christian University and No. 8-seed University of Houston Victoria tomorrow at 2 p.m.