RAMS LOSE HEARTBREAKER IN THE NINTH
May 11, 2007

Box Score

HOUSTON, TX:  The 13th ranked Texas Wesleyan University baseball team suffered a heartbreaking 7-6 loss after jumping ahead 6-1 in the top of the ninth against Houston Baptist University (38-18) in the NAIA Region VI Final.  The loss ends the Red River Athletic Conference Champion Rams’ season at 41-10, marking the program’s highest win total since 1980 and lowest loss total since 1973.

The Huskies got on the board first with a two-out RBI single to center from Eric Schiro in the first inning.  The Rams answered in the top of the second when Billie Hicks led off with a single to left and later scored on a ground ball from Ross Elmore.

Texas Wesleyan’s starter, Jayson Rachuig, retired seven straight hitters before Kory Johns led of the fifth with a single back up the middle.  J.W. Beachamp ran for Johns and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, but Rachuig ended the threat by getting the next two batters to ground out.

The Huskies put a pair of runners on base with two outs in the seventh, but Hayden Lackey came on in relief of Rachuig and got Greg Gossett to line out to Elmore at second base.

Josh Vander Hey led off the eighth with a double down the right field line prompting Huskies head coach Jared Moon to turn to Keith Brunson in relief of Matthew Headley.  With one out, Brunson intentionally walked Antoine Cole putting runners at first and second.  After Brunson struck out the next hitter, Elmore came through with a clutch RBI single through the left side of the infield plating Jeremy Howard who was running for Vander Hey and giving the Rams a 2-1 lead.

In the bottom of the eighth, Schiro singled with one out.  The Huskies pinch ran Beachamp who went all the way to third on a ground out to shortstop, but Lackey induced another ground out to get out of the jam.

Ryan Jacobi led off the ninth with a double down the left field line.  Jason Diaz then bunted and reached on an error before Brandon Frazier singled home Jacobi and chased Brunson from the game.  Vander Hey added an RBI double.  Frazier scored on a wild pitch, and Billie Hicks lifted a sacrifice fly to left to bring the score to 6-1.

The Huskies scored one in the ninth with singles from Ryan Mejewski and Craig Hebert, and took advantage of two Texas Wesleyan errors to plate another and load the bases with two down.  Andrew Taccolini walked and a second balk call of the inning scored another run and brought the Huskies to within a run a 6-5.  Diego Castillo’s shot up the middle just eluded the glove of Billie Hicks at shortstop, plated two runs, and the Huskies came away with the 7-6 win.

Rachuig allowed one run on five hits in 6.2 innings of work and received no decision.  Hayden Lackey (4-2) allowed six runs, only one earned, on five hits and two walks in two innings pitched.

Eli Elicerio (2-0) picked up the win in relief after allowing one run on one hit in one inning of work.

Vander Hey, Hicks, and Elmore each recorded a pair of hits in the contest.

HBU advances to next week’s Super Regional which will be played at the campus of the Region V champion.