Darkness Delays Ending of Scorpion Season Opener

Posted February 9, 2007

BELTON -- The long-awaited season opener for the UTB/TSC Scorpions as a member of the NAIA started Friday, February 9, but did not officially end.

The Scorpions and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor played to a 5-5 tie after 12 innings when the game was suspended because of darkness. The game will resume at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, February 10.

Immediately following the conclusion of the completed first game, UTB/TSC and UMHB will play a douleheader -- two seven-inning games.

"We had multiple chances to expand a lead and win the game, but couldn't do it," said Scorpion head coach Joel Barta. "Trey Garcia pitched well enough to win the game, but the defense didn't help today."

Garcia pitched seven and one-third innings, Kevin Cantu one and two-thirds, and David Belleperche pitched three innings of scoreless relief.

The Scorpions had the opening-day jitters, committing five errors. "We allowed them to stay in the game by making errors, but the best part is the game isn't over yet. We can still win our first game of the season. We just need to execute our short game ... all we need is one run and protect a lead."

Brian Dombeck is 3-5 for UTB and Jacob Yousif and Hawk Scott have two hits each so far. "Brian swung the bat well, so did Jacob and Hawk," Barta said.

UMHB scored the game’s first two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Joseph Villegas doubled home the first run and scored the second when he stole home on a double steal. UTB/TSC tied the game at 2-2 with two runs in the fourth on RBI singles from Scott and  Dombeck.

Ricky LaFont’s RBI single in the bottom of the fifth put UMHB up 3-2 before the Scorpions answered with two runs in the top of the sixth on another Dombeck RBI single and a throwing error to take a 4-3 lead. Adam Froeschl led off the bottom of the frame with a triple and scored on Villegas’ groundout to tie the game at 4-4.

The Scorpions took a 5-4 lead when Dombeck stole home on the back end of a double steal in the top of the eighth. UMHB tied the game again when Ryan Gaze scored on a throwing error in the bottom of the ninth. The Crusaders then had the potential game-winning runs thrown out at home plate later that inning and in the bottom of the tenth.

Ricky LaFont is 3-3 for UMHB before being lifted for a pinch-runner. Froeschl and Villegas have two hits apiece for the Crusaders.

UMHB, a NCAA Division III member of the American Southwest Conference, does not have lights on its baseball field. The Scorpions are in their first year in the NAIA as a member of the Red River Athletic Conference.

After the three-game series in Belton, the Scorpions will travel south to Seguin Sunday, February 11, for a doubleheader against Texas Lutheran University.

UTB/TSC opens its home season at 4 p.m. Thursday, February 15, with a doubleheader against Viterbo University of Wisconsin, as part of a five-game series.