Peel and Klemke combine for 14 K's, lead AC to series-clinching victory

Adversity struck in the rarest of forms to begin the conference slate for the Amarillo College baseball team.

Despite a trip to Borger on Saturday that resulted in no games due to a lack of an umpire and a game two run-rule defeat on Sunday, AC displayed perseverance and grit against Frank Phillips College to garner a 3-1 series victory to begin play in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference.

"We were lights out on the mound in games 1, 2, and 4. We showed tremendous resolve today and our bats continued to produce at a high rate," Amarillo College head coach Brandon Rains said after the conclusion of the series.

Amarillo College batters tallied 40 hits and the Badger pitching staff recorded 44 strikeouts over the course of the four-game series compared to the Plainsmen's 27 hits and 29 strikeouts.

The Badgers started the series on Sunday with a 6-2 victory in game one – headlined by a David De Hoyos inside-the-park home run and a nine-strikeout performance by ace pitcher Bret Deegan.

Following their second run-rule defeat of the season to conclude play on Sunday, AC tallied a double-digit run total for the eighth time this season in a 11-6 game three victory.

All nine Badger batters recorded at least one hit in the contest. Chris Benavidez led the team with three hits and Grant Watkins' two-run homer in the sixth frame all but ended the hopes of a late rally for the home team as AC took a 10-4 lead.

Lubbock natives Lawson Peel and Colton Klemke combined for 14 strikeouts on the mound in game four on Monday to lead the Badgers to a series-clinching 8-2 win.

Sophomore shortstop Jan Avila hit his third homer of the season during the nine-inning contest.

Amarillo College's season record improved to 15-5 with the trio of victories against the Plainsmen.

The Badgers are tied for first place in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference with El Paso Community College following the first week of the WJCAC slate.

Game 4 Summary

Lawson Peel and Colton Klemke did not pitch a season ago for the Badgers.

Peel was out for the entire 2023 season with an injury while Klemke spent a year away from the game before joining the program.

The Lubbock natives continued their comeback stories with a series hanging in the balance entering game four.

Peel got the start on the hill and went a season-high four innings before Klemke took over pitching duties.

Peel tallied seven strikeouts, allowed two earned runs, and walked two batters in his fifth appearance of the season.

Klemke allowed no earned runs, struck out seven batters, allowed three hits, and walked four in the final five innings.

Amarillo College broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth inning via a Prado single that drove in Ward.

Avila's solo home run in the sixth frame extended AC's lead to 4-2. Bush scored on a Plainsmen throwing error to make it a 5-2 game heading into the seventh.

A Gonzalez triple and a Avila groundout, which drove in his fellow Puerto Rican, gave the Badgers a 7-2 advantage.

Prado's sacrifice fly brought home De Hoyos, who singled to begin the inning, to conclude scoring for the game.

Klemke recorded two strikeouts and forced a ground out in the bottom half of the ninth frame.