UTRGV hands CBU their first conference loss in a Saturday morning thriller
UTRGV baseball (13-15, 5-7) wins in walk off fashion, 4-3, against California Baptist University (18-7, 11-1) in the final game of the series earlier today at the UTRGV Baseball Stadium.
In the bottom of the ninth, Vaquero graduate left fielder Elijah Alexander, who was a defensive substitution in the top of the ninth, squeezed a one out bunt and graduate shortstop Christian Sepulveda charged from third and slid under the freshman catcher Conner Clift tag for the win.
Alexander was chased and mobbed by his teammates in centerfield as the Vaqueros were able to give the Lancers their first conference loss of the season.
A bunt is not typical in a one-out, runner-on-third situation but UTRGV Head Coach Derek Matlock trusted Associate Head Coach Russell Raley with the call as he explained in a postgame news conference via Zoom.
“Coach Raley put that on himself,” Matlock said. “Coach Raley runs the offense, he makes the calls… but I let him run. He is a great offensive coach and he made a big call.
Matlock added that the Vaqueros relied on the bunting game as they currently work through an offensive funk as UTRGV had only scored four runs in its last three games that included 0-3 shutout on Thursday.
“We had to go to the bunt game,” he said. “Coach Raley did a good job of executing a lot of bunts and trying to do some things ‘cause we are not really swinging the bat that well right now.”
The tactic proved fruitful in the fifth inning as the Sepulveda, junior third baseman Deandre’ Shelton and freshman left fielder Spencer Serven were able to reach base.
Serven drove in Sepulveda to give the Vaqueros a 1-0 lead.
Shelton would score on a graduate catcher Conrado Diaz shot to center field that was dropped by Lancer sophomore Damon Keith on an error, one of four on the day for CBU, for a 2-0 lead.
The Vaqueros would score their third run of the inning with a junior right fielder Freddy Rojas Jr. RBI sac-fly to right as Serven would come across to score.
On six-days rest, Vaquero sophomore starting pitcher J.C. Ariza was dealing through six innings, striking out three and only allowing two hits.
In the seventh, the Lancer bats came alive with five hits and scoring two runs as Ariza, after 80 pitches, was pulled by Matlock as the Vaquero called for junior relief pitcher Tyler Kisner out of the bullpen to put out the fire and preserve the 3-2 lead.
Kisner recorded the final out of the inning by getting sophomore PH Grady Tuohy to pop out to graduate Andy Atwood at second.
The Lancers evened up the game in the top of the ninth with a freshman PH David Martin fielder’s choice RBI that scored sophomore right fielder Chad Castillo on a defensive error by Sepulveda.
Senior reliever Chase Bridges is the winning pitcher as he came in to close the game for the final two outs giving up the tying run that was credited to freshman reliever Zach Tjelmeland who threw 1.1 innings.
Lancers junior reliever Jacob McCarvel suffered his first loss of the season despite throwing a near flawless 2.1 innings only allowing one hit, one run and striking out two on 35 pitches.
The Vaqueros now have a quick turnaround as they will host the Texas State Bobcats 6 p.m. Tuesday for a non-conference matchup.
To listen to Tuesday’s game live, visit utrgvradio.com or download the RadioFX app on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Twitter: @Radio_Rubio
