Jaguars finish with split against Saints

Freshman Denver Evans (FR/Yoakum, TX) celebrated Senior Day with his best collegiate games of his young career Saturday helping the University of Houston-Victoria Jaguars end the 2019 season with a split in a doubleheader against the Our Lady of the Saints at Riverside Stadium.

Evans went 4-for-7 with two home runs, a triple, four RBI and three runs as the Jaguars took the opening game 3-2, before losing the nightcap 11-6 behind four OLLU home runs.

The Jaguars end their season at 18-30 overall and 11-16 in RRAC play, while the Saints improve to 29-22 overall and 18-8 in conference.

Evans provided the spark in the opening game when he ripped a one-out triple to right in the third scoring courtesy runner Corben Henry (JR/Alvin, TX). Henry was running for catcher Maxwell Sheldon (JR/Houston, TX) who had singled for the Jaguars first hit.

Evans would then score on a sacrifice fly by Zechariah Vela (SO/Victoria, TX) for a 2-1 lead.

The Jaguars would add a much needed insurance run in the sixth on three consecutive singles by Joshua Fonseca (SR/Pasadena, TX), Luis Vargas (JR/Barquisimeto, Lara, Venezuela) and Garrett Harrison (JR/Victoria, TX).

The run would be key as the Saints tallied a solo run in the seventh, before starter Bailey Kolb (FR/Vanderbilt, TX) was able to work out of further damage to earn the win.

The Jaguar would jump in front in the opening inning of Game 2 on Vela's solo home run to left.

Evans would stretch the lead to 3-0 in the third with his first collegiate home run, a two-run shot to left.

The Saints rallied back in the fourth and behind a three-run home run from Ryan Chapa, grabbed a 4-3 lead.

The Jaguars would score two more in the fifth to go back in front. Evans put down a perfect bunt for a single with Derek Smith (SO/Richmond, TX) racing home on the play with the Saint's pitcher rushed his throw to first and threw it away.

Chase Tamez (SR/Cypress, TX) would drive home another run on a sacrifice fly that scored Henry, who was running for catcher Richard Isom (FR/Houston), who had singled.

But back-to-back home runs by Jacob Mitchell and Jose Diaz put the Saints back in front 8-6 in the sixth.

Evans pulled the Jaguars back to within one in the seventh when he led off the inning with his second home run of the game.

But the Saints would add a solo run in the seventh on an RBI double by TJ Kessner and then sealed the win with a two-run home run from Xavier Solis in the ninth.

Seniors Tamez, Fonseca, Jacob Atkinson (SR/Harlingen, TX) and Austin Wailes (SR/Deer Park, TX) were recognized between games.