SEGUIN, Texas (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | In the opening game of the 2020 Texas spring trip for the Gothic Knights, Texas Lutheran University scored in each of the first four innings, including five in the fourth inning to knock off the New Jersey City University baseball team, 14-1, on March 7 at Katt-Isbel Field. It was the first game ever played west of the Mississippi River in program history and the first in the Central time zone.
Texas Lutheran, receiving votes in the D3baseball.com and two years removed from being the 2018 NCAA Division III World Series national runner-up—losing to in-state foe Texas-Tyler—improved to 7-4 on the year. The Bulldogs outhit NJCU, 12-4, including a pair of home runs. NJCU fell to 0-5 against a challenging schedule.
Sophomore left-handed pitcher Matthew Hickey (Spring, Texas) earned the win, improving to 3-0 in four starts. In 5.0 scoreless innings, he allowed just two hits, striking out eight against four walks. TLU had three pitchers combine for 12 strikeouts. NJCU used eight pitchers in the loss; sophomore righty Edward Zarszynski had the best performance, tossing 1.2 hitless innings with one walk against.
Senior right fielder Tyler Cauley (Baytown, Texas) led the Bulldogs with five RBIs, including a decisive three-run shot and a double, batting 3-for-4 with two runs. Freshman designated hitter Tyler Post (San Antonio, Texas) was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a double. Junior first baseman Cole Irby (Buda, Texas) scored three runs, walking twice. Sophomore shortstop Joe Jimenez (San Antonio, Texas) scored twice and hit a solo homer.
Freshman right fielder Justin Wiltsey drove in NJCU's only run—his first career RBI—with a double. Senior center fielder Juan Pena walked twice and had a single to reach base three times. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Paul Tannucilli started and went the first two innings (0-3).
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- In the first, Bill Feehan walked and Pena's 97th career hit put two men on but NJCU could not push a run across. TLU jumped ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the inning, thanks to two singles and a walk with an RBI single by Cauley knocking in senior Austin Colon (La Grange, Texas).
- TLU made it 2-0 when Jimenez hit a first-pitch two-out solo homer (second of the season) over the left field fence in the second.
- The Bulldogs struck with two outs in the third. After a hit batter and a walk, a single up the middle by Post made it 3-0. A walk loaded the bases before freshman shortstop Tyler Springett made a diving catch on a line drive up the middle to end the frame.
- In the fourth, Pena walked and sophomore left fielder Leo Colon had an infield single to short. A two-out double steal put runners in scoring position before Hickey got a key strikeout to end the threat.
- The Bulldogs added five runs in the bottom of the fourth to break the game open—the biggest blow a three-run homer down the left field line by Cauley to make it 8-0.
- NJCU broke up the shutout in the sixth. Pena walked and with two outs scored all the way from first base on a double to the left center gap by Wiltsey. TLU answered with a ninth run in the bottom of the inning. Cauley added an RBI double in the eighth for a 10th run. TLU scored five runs in the bottom of the eighth to account for the final margin.
UP NEXT:
- The two schools will meet again tomorrow night (Sunday, March 8) at 7 p.m. Eastern (6 p.m. Central) on day two of NJCU's five-day Texas road trip.
- Live Stats: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/tlu/index.htm
- Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/tlu/index.htm
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