Badgers display offensive potency on the road against Chaps

Amarillo College accomplished a pair of feats against Midland College that no previous opponent could prior to this past weekend's series in the Tall City.

The Badgers were the first team in 2024 to claim a series-opening win against the Chapparals and earn a victory against ace Tyler Boudreau, who had a 7-0 record entering the homestand for MC and was a first-team all-conference pitcher in 2023.

Amarillo College secured a victory on Friday in game one (10-1) before dropping the final three games of the series.

Sophomore Grant Watkins hit two home runs against Boudreau and freshman pitcher Logan Tibbett claimed the win on the mound in his first career start.

The Tulsa, Oklahoma native was superb in his debut, allowing one earned run and five hits in five innings. Sophomore Gabe Watson, who is committed to play baseball at Purdue University next season, allowed one hit and struck out four batters in the final two innings as the Badgers closer.

Watkins' three-run homer in the first inning ignited the Badgers dugout and gave AC a 3-1 lead after the first inning. Sophomore Sydney Ward and Watkins propelled the Badgers' six-run sixth as the upperclassmen hit one home run each during the game-clinching inning.

Both homers were two-run shots by Ward and Watkins.

Amarillo College was defeated in game two (14-2) to conclude play on Friday. At Christensen Field on Saturday, Midland College claimed a 6-0 win in game three and a 18-8 win in game four.

The 1-3 showing in Midland leaves the Badgers in a three-way tie for fourth place – the final postseason slot – in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference. AC has a 11-9 conference record through five conference matchups.

Game 4 Summary

Five Badger errors combined with five Midland College doubles, three triples, and another Lewis home run gave MC an 18-8 run-rule victory in six innings.

The teams traded leads in the first three frame before the Chaps plated 11 combined runs during the fifth and sixth inning to put the rune-rule into effect.

Watkins' RBI double in the first inning gave the Badgers a 2-0 lead. MC tied the game in the bottom of the frame and took a 3-2 lead during the second.

A Ward walk, David De Hoyos double, and Gerardo Prado RBI double gave AC a brief 4-3 in the top half of the third frame.

A dropped third strike, two throwing errors, and a double led MC to a three-run third. The Chaps maintained the lead the rest of the way.

Chris Benavidez hit a solo home run in the top of the fourth, narrowing AC's deficit to 6-5. The hit marked his 11th homer of the season – the second-highest total on the Badgers roster.