Baseball rallies to win first game in 2024
The Wiley University baseball team overcame a three-run deficit in Game 1 to secure its first victory of the season, 9-6 over Sterling College but lost the second game 6-3 Friday at Airport Park.
The Wildcats (1-4) win their home opener for the first time since 2019. It's their first victory over the Warriors, ending a five-game losing streak.
GAME 1
Wiley trailed 5-2 entering the bottom of the fifth inning. Eddie Garza led off with a single. Jacob Perez followed with a walk. Kai Woodard put down a bunt and Sterling's pitcher throw to first was offline, loading the bases with one out.
Garza scored on a passed ball. Jhan Carlos Javier brought home Perez and Woodard with a single to right, tying the game at five. Javier gave the Wildcats the lead scoring on a balk.
Sterling tied the game in the sixth with a double and two balks. Nick Rodriguez got the next three batters out. With one out, Garza, Perez and Woodard walked to load the bases. Javier hit a slow roller to second, the second baseman tried to throw him out but throw the ball past first. Garza and Perez scored to give Wiley the lead for good. Ryan Ready drove in Woodard with his third hit.
Rodriguez retired the side in the seventh to seal the victory. He struck out three batters in two innings. Isaac Burciaga made his first start of the season and went four innings. He struck out three batters.
Ready went 3-for-4 with a run and two RBIs. Javier went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs. Garza, Perez and Woodard each scored two runs.
GAME 2
For the first time this season, the Wildcats struck first in the second inning. They took advantage of four walks and two hit batters. Anthony Castaneda, scored his first run of the season on Laker McPherson's ground ball to second. A passed ball brought home Amir Mason.
Wiley struggled to find open grass as it didn't get a base hit until Perez hit a hard ground ball to third in the bottom of the fourth. It was outhit 9-4. The Warriors scored a run in the third and took the lead with two runs in the fifth. They added insurance runs with one in the sixth and two in the seventh.
The Wildcats tried to rally in their last at-bat. With one out, Perez walked and Woodard singled. Ivan Del Villar brought home Perez with a single to center. The rally ended with a fielder's choice and a fly out. Keyon Guillory made his second career start. He went five innings and struck out a career-high seven batters.
The series will conclude at 1 p.m. at the Eagle Nest Park in Tatum, Texas. The game was moved due to rain in the forecast.
For more coverage on the Wildcats visit Baseball - Wiley University (wileyathletics.com)
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