Scorpions Split Doubleheader; Record First Win over NCAA Division I Opponent
Posted April 19, 2008
HOUSTON -- In a day of come-from-behind rallies, UTB/TSC scored eight runs in the last three innings for an 8-4 victory over Houston Baptist University in the first game of a non-conference baseball doubleheader Saturday, April 19, at Husky Field.

In the second game, HBU scored four runs in the last two innings to wipe out a 5-2 deficit for a 6-5 win over the Scorpions.

The first game victory was the first win for the Scorpions over an NCAA Division I opponent in any sport. During the 2007 season, the Scorpion volleyball team played three matches against NCAA Division I opponents -- two against HBU and one against the University of Texas-Pan American, and lost all three.

The Scorpions (21-30) wrap up their regular season with the finale of the three-game series at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 20, against HBU (15-18).

HBU was a member of the Red River Athletic Conference with the Scorpions in 2007 but vaulted to the NCAA Division I after the 2006-07 school year. The Huskies are not affiliated with an NCAA conference.

In their first season in 2007, the Scorpions did not play an NCAA Division I opponent. The Huskies are the only NCAA Division I opponent on the 2008 Scorpion baseball schedule.

"Yes, it does feel great to get that first victory over a Division One opponent," Scorpion head coach Joel Barta. "But it's frustrating when you literally have a sweep of the doubleheader and fail to close it out. It's just a maturity thing.

The Scorpions have clinched a berth in the Red River Athletic Conference South Zone and have qualified in the RRAC Tournament to be held at Scorpion Field April 29-May 2. UTB/TSC will play its opening game in the double-elimination tournament against an opponent to be determined at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 29.

UTB/TSC finished its RRAC South Zone play last weekend with a 7-5 South Zone record. Wiley College swept Huston-Tillotson University in three straight to finish with a South Zone record of 8-4, surpassing the Scorpions for second place.

Scorpions 8, Huskies 4 (first game)

Julian Moya went all seven innings for the Scorpions, allowing two earned runs and nine hits. He is now 8-5 for the season. Moya gave up a single run in the third inning and three in the third, but settled down and got stronger in the late innings.

The Scorpions tied the game at 4-4 with a four-run rally in the fifth inning that started after two outs. Scott Price was hit by a pitch, Ryan MacDonald tripled him in, and Jorge Camorlinga beat out an infield single to make it 4-2. Jacob Yousif then struck out but reached first on a passed ball, and Schaune Collins doubled to left-center to score both runners, tying the game at 4-4.

Doubles by Ignacio Celedon and Brian Dombeck made it 5-4 in the sixth, and Dombeck scored an error to make it 6-4. The Scorpions added two more in the seventh.

UTB/TSC had eight hits, with Camorlinga getting two. Dombeck scored twice and MacDonald had two RBI.

Huskies 6, Scorpions 5 (second game)

All 11 runs in the game were scored after the bottom of the fifth inning, when the Huskies broke out to a 1-0 lead. The Scorpions tied it at 1-1 in the top of the sixth, which HBU matched in the bottom of the sixth for a 2-1 lead. The Scorpions then scored two runs each in the seventh and eighth innings to take a 5-2 lead before HBU rallied for two runs each in the eighth and ninth.

Tony Lerma went seven and two-thirds innings, allowing three earned runs and six hits while striking out eight. Evan Hardman (0-3) was the loser in relief. The Huskies scored the tying and winning run on a two-out double by Richard Orange.

"Tony (Lerma) threw great today, it's a shame he couldn't get the victory," Barta said. "We gave that second game away. We had a three-run lead with six outs to go."

Chris Walker, Camorlinga and Collins, who belted a solo homer in the eighth, had two hits each for the Scorpions.