AC drops final homestand against Odessa College
Jan Avila’s hot streak continued at the plate and Colton Klemke tallied his second-highest strikeout total of the season on the mound during Amarillo College’s final home series, April 19-20, at Sandie Field.
Avila hit his eighth home run of the season, doubling his total from a season ago, in Saturday’s series finale against Odessa College. Klemke recorded four strikeouts and gave up one hit in two innings of work during a 10-2 game four loss.
The Wranglers claimed a 3-1 series victory, defeating the Badgers in all three contested games held at Sandie Field. Amarillo College claimed a victory in game one via forfeit due to a non-collegial incident that occurred between the Odessa College and El Paso Community College the week prior.
OC outhit AC 40-21 – the Badgers largest series deficit of the season in the hit column – and struck out 31 batters on the mound compared to 17 strikeouts by AC hurlers.
Amarillo College’s conference record fell to 12-16 following the 1-3 showing against the Wranglers. The Badgers are now in seventh place in 10-team WJCAC, sitting three games out of the fourth and final postseason slot.
AC heads to New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell for a twinbill on Friday and Saturday in Roswell. The Broncos are tied for third place in the WJCAC with a 15-13 conference record.
The following is a summary of each contested game against Odessa College.
Game 2
Amarillo College garnered their lone lead of the series in the third inning of Friday’s series opener at Sandie Field.
An Avila single, Chris Benavidez triple, and a fielder’s choice on a Bret Deegan ground ball gave the Badgers a 2-1 advantage heading into the fourth frame.
Odessa College plated four runs in the top of the fourth to recapture the lead en route to a 6-3 victory.
Benavidez and Avila tallied a team-best two hits apiece.
Logan Tibbett gave up eight hits, five earned runs, and struck out three batters in his third start on the mound for AC.
Noah Turner allowed five hits, one earned run, and struck out one batter during the final four frames on the hill.
Game 3
Odessa College took a 5-0 lead through 1 1/2 innings and plated five runs in the seventh frame to conclude play on Friday via a 15-3 run-rule win.
OC outhit AC 16-4 in the contest.
Amarillo College plated three runs in the third inning via a Sydney Ward RBI single and an OC error, which scored Cam Saleh and Avila.
The Badgers utilized six pitchers over the course of the seven-inning contest. Bret Deegan got the start and allowed six hits, five earned runs, and struck out three during the first two frames.
Carter Beard, Isaac Garza, Remington Spoerl, J.P. Hinojosa, and Bryce Gilchrist also saw time on the mound.
Garza had the longest stint of the six AC hurlers as the freshman from Plainview recorded three strikeouts and allowed four hits in 2 1/3 innings.
Gilchrist gave up no hits or runs during the final inning of play.
Game 4
Despite being outhit by a narrow margin (11-9), Amarillo College was defeated via run rule - 10-2 in seven innings - to end the series against the Wranglers on Saturday.
The Badgers stranded 10 baserunners, including a bases-loaded jam in the third inning, during the loss.
David De Hoyos and Grant Watkins recorded two hits each to pace AC at the plate. Watkins recorded the team’s lone double while Avila added a two-run homer in the fifth inning to prevent a run-rule stoppage following the frame.
Starting pitcher Duncan Bowles made his 11th start of the season and went 4 1/3 innings before his day ended on the hill. The freshman allowed 10 hits, six earned runs, and struck out two batters.
Gabe Watson was placed on the mound after one out in the fifth frame. The sophomore walked two batters, allowed one earned run, and struck out one to conclude the inning.
Klemke tallied four strikeouts in the final two innings while allowing one hit and one earned run.