Badgers notch first top-5 victory on opening weekend

A top-5 win was etched on the Badgers' program resume to begin the 2025 campaign at Hodgetown on Saturday against fifth-ranked Johnson County Community College.

Sophomore Zyon Hamilton ended game two of the series in emphatic fashion via a two-run homer in the seventh inning. The Badgers won the contest 21-11 by way of the 10-run rule after five innings of play.

The starting second baseman and second-year Badger become the fifth player in program history to hit three home runs in a single series during AC's opening weekend. Hamilton hit his third home run of the series in game four of the series final on Sunday.

Previous players to accomplish the feat at AC include, Sydney Ward, Chris Benavidez, Grant Watkins, and JP Hinojosa.

Returning sophomore all-conference pitcher Bret Deegan earned his ninth win during Saturday's finale. Deegan struck out three batters, walked two, and allowed five earned runs.

The victory moved Deegan atop AC's all-time career wins list.

Despite losing the series 3-1, Amarillo College made history for the second consecutive season against Johnson County. A season ago, the Badgers claimed their first ranked win in team history when the Cavaliers entered the matchup ranked eighth.

Offensively, seven Badgers recorded a batting average over .300 while six AC batters hit home runs.

Hamilton led AC with three long balls. Brandon Dickinson, Payton Bush, Gerardo Prado, David De Hoyos, and Ellington Jefferson tallied one homer apiece.

Game 4 Summary

Incarnate Word commit, Dickinson, tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the first with his first homer at AC.

Johnson County hit a two-run home run in both the second and third frame to extend their advantage to 7-1.

A Christian McGuire RBI triple and a fielder's choice on a Dickinson groundout swung the momentum in the Badgers favor for a half inning. Johnson County quickly responded with a four-run sixth and three-run seventh to end the contest via mercy rule.