Jags welcoming MACU to town for big four-game series
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 0 |
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
|
|
0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | X | 4 | 7 | 2 |
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | X | 2 | 6 | 0 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 12 | 0 |
|
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | X | 6 | 12 | 1 |
The UHV baseball team had a historic start to the season and wants to build on it.
After sweeping Wayland Baptist and starting the year 4-0 for the first time since 2008, the Jaguars welcome Mid-America Christian (1-1) to town for a four-game series starting with a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Friday.
The Evangels split their season-opening doubleheader with No. 5-ranked LSU Shreveport, winning the opener 11-1 in eight innings before dropping the second 5-4. MACU won 39 games last season, including all four against UHV.
"MACU has a great squad and they're going to be another great test for our team," said second-year head coach Jonathan Stavinoha. "They're well-coached all the way through, top to bottom. There's no easy outs in that lineup. We're going to have to play our game and come out ready to pick up where we left off if we want to win the series."
The Jaguars were able to win in different ways in their opening series, something Stavinoha was happy to see.
Junior right-hander Mason Longoria's dominant showing of eight strikeouts, three hits and two walks, and smart baserunning to score Levi Whitlock led to a 1-0 win in Game 1. Longoria was named Red River Athletic Conference and NAIA Ball Pitcher of the Week for that performance.
In Game 2, UHV won 3-2, scoring Kaden Fikac on a wild pitch and Juan Martin on a bases-loaded walk by Richie Gill Jr. to take the lead. Sophomore Brady Parker turned in seven strikeouts in five innings of work to pick up the winning decision while freshman Samuel Ibarra Jr. earned the save in his first-ever collegiate appearance.
"The confidence is there," Stavinoha said of the team's pitching. "Every single one of our starters had quality starts and we had good performances out of the bullpen."
The next day, the Jaguars plated 21 runs on 22 hits, including six doubles, to win 14-7 and 7-3. Fikac, Raul Lopez, Juan Martin and Hal Perez each had multiple RBIs during Games 3 and 4.
"Last year, we got kind of ran off our own field; we weren't as far along last year at this time," Stavinoha said. "With the experience, the team has a different feel. We're one team moving forward and to feel that has been great. We're coming in with more confidence and a good gameplan. We look forward to executing that and hopefully coming up with a better result than last year."
Prior to Saturday's noon doubleheader, the 2023 RRAC Tournament Championship team will be recognized on the field with a ring ceremony. Graduated members of last year's team will also throw out the ceremonial first pitch.