Badger baseball sweeps Lamar, extends win streak to 7 games

Defeating a team in four consecutive games in a two-day span is no easy task for an NJCAA baseball program.

Amarillo College accomplished the feat once since the reboot of athletics entering their four-game series this past Sunday and Monday against Lamar Community College.

The Badgers added a second four-game sweep to their program resume on Monday at Hodgetown, rallying from a 5-3 deficit in game four to secure an 11-8 win.

"It's very difficult to beat a team four times in a row, but you guys played well," Amarillo head coach Brandon Rains told his team after the series-clinching victory. "It got challenging at times but you kept playing and found a way. I'm very proud of you guys."

The Badgers improved their overall record to 9-3 and win streak to seven games by the time the final out was recorded on Monday.

Rains noted his thoughts the Badgers hot start to the season and how it can be sustained moving forward.

"We just worry about what we're doing each inning. We're not worried about the record. Not looking forward to the future. It's about winning that inning, pitching and playing defense each inning and have good quality at bats up and down the lineup," he explained. "The record will take care of itself. We're just one game at a time."

On the field, the Badgers recipe for success against Lamar was power and punchouts.

The Badgers hit seven homers, three off the bat of returning all-conference outfielder Sydney Ward, and tallied 45 strikeouts on the mound.

Game one starter Gabe Watson recorded the second-highest strikeout total (11) since the reboot of athletics on Sunday to pick up his first win. Bret Deegan and Duncan Bowles followed in games 2 and 3 with 10 strikeouts and 8 K's respectively to improve their record as starting pitchers to 3-0.

"We pitched really well at times. Most of our pitchers were in command of all their pitches. They filled up the strike zone and had a ton of strikeouts, swing and misses," Rains said. "Our first four hitters are really talented and can leave the ballpark at any time. Really you have several guys in that lineup that can leave the ballpark at any time. They have a good, consistent professional-based approach."

Game 4

Staring at a 5-3 in the top of sixth inning, freshman pitcher Carter Beard was placed on the mound with one out and the momentum swinging in the favor of the Lopes.

The Abilene Wylie High School product ensued with two critical strikeouts, leaving two Lamar baserunners stranded.

Benavidez, Ward, and David De Hoyos capitalized in the bottom of the frame.

Benavidez led with a two-out triple, followed by a Ward double. De Hoyos brought Ward home on a single to tie the game at 5-5.

After Beard forced two fly outs and a pop out in the seventh, AC plated five runs in the bottom half of the inning – highlighted by David De Hoyos' three-run homer – to secure a 10-5 lead.

The Badgers went on to win the game 11-8 in nine innings.

Lawson Peel got the start and recorded a career-high four strikeouts on a pitch count limit in three innings.

Carter Beard claimed the first win of his career on the hill.