This past weekend, Coastal Bend College Baseball hosted NJCAA Division II #7 Murray State College at Joe Hunter Field for a three game series.  

The series started off with a double header on Friday afternoon. Michael Dinsdale started game on the hill for CBC and pitched two shutout innings before being relieved by Marco Becerril. Becerill came in the fourth inning with the bases loaded. The Aggies scored two runs off Becerril's inherited runners on base. Becerril would come back strong by striking out the side. The Cougars started their rally in the bottom of the sixth inning with a double from Mitchell Sexton. Murray State's reliever came in with a runner on second while walking the next two Coastal Bend batters to load the bases. Bo Gonzales would deliver a two RBI single to make the score 3-2 with Murray State leading. Ruben Sepulveda and Jared Irvine would put the Cougars ahead by drawing back to back RBI walks to put the Cougars up 4-3. The top of the 7th inning would start out with a single for Murray State. The Aggies would hit a sacrifice bunt to advance the runner into scoring position. Following a ground out, the next Murray State batter would hit a single into shallow center field.  The Aggie the runner at second base attempted to score, but center fielder Joel Rodriguez would make a magnificent throw to end the game at the plate.

The second game of the double header would be led by Michael Smith. The scoring for Coastal Bend would start with a leadoff double from Jordan Gochenour down the right field line in the bottom of the second. Adrian Pena would lay down a safety squeeze to bring in Gochenour. Smith would pitch three scoreless innings before giving up an unearned run via throwing error that would score a runner on a sacrifice fly. The bottom of the third inning Ruben Sepulveda would drive in a two out, bases loaded RBI single before Murray State would retire the side. In the top of the fifth, Jacob Williamson would relieve Smith after hitting the first batter of the inning. The Aggies would score a run off a passed ball. Williamson would exit the game with bases loaded, after striking out two Aggies, leaving the last out for Colton Getschmann to end the inning with a strike out. The score headed into the bottom of the fifth would be 3-2, Coastal Bend. The Cougars would answer back with three runs of their own, with another two RBI single from Sepulveda, whom later scored himself off a perfectly executed, first and third, double steal. The score headed into the top of the sixth, would be CBC up 6-2.

Tyler Dick would make his appearance in the top of the 6th, giving up back to back doubles to start a Murray State, six run rally; giving the Aggies the lead 8-6. The Cougars would work quickly in the seventh inning to cut into the two run deficit as Sepulveda would get things started with a leadoff double, then defensive replacement, Bryce Symmes would earn a walk. After a wild pitch, Sepulveda advanced to third. With runners on first and third, Cody Lee would lay down a safety squeeze down the first base line to score Sepulveda, but forcing Symmes out at second base. Now down 7-8, Sexton would single to left field, leaving runners on first and second base with one out. The next two batters would fly out to center field, leaving the Cougars short of their comeback 7-8.

The rubber match between Murray State and Coastal Bend would be a nine inning showdown that began at high noon on Saturday. Christian Garcia would get the start for the Cougars. After pitching two scoreless innings, the Aggies scored the first run of the ball game with an error from right field to bring in the runner from second base in the top of the third inning. The Cougars, Josh Burnett would lead the fourth inning off with a double, while Bo Gonzales would bring him in with a 2 run homerun to put Coastal Bend up, 2-1. Gouchenour and Sepulveda were both able to get on base by drawings walks. Jared Irvine would make the bases loaded after getting hit by a pitch. Jason Ingersoll then hit an RBI, a ground ball double play which scored Gouchenour to put the Cougars up 3-1. Murray State would come right back in the top of the fifth inning with a solo homerun. Murray State had one out and the bases loaded when Getschmann entered the game from the bullpen for Coastal Bend and was able to get the Cougars out of the jam, ending the scoring threat from the Aggies.  

Coastal Bend looked to add more insurance in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Enrique Garcia lead the Cougars off with a single. Burnett was able to get on base by a HBP. Gouchenour loaded the bases for Coastal Bend by drawing a walk. Sepulveda brought in two runners with a double, to put the Cougars up 5-2. As the game headed into the seventh inning, Murray State was able to manufacture another run and looked to tie things up. Getschmann would be retired for Jacob Williamson. Williamson shut down the inning with a double play. The Cougars went on to beat the Aggies, 5-3 as Williamson shutout Murray State in the eighth and ninth innings.

The Cougars will hosting NJCAA Division 1 #11 ranked, Panola College this coming Friday and Saturday, 2/09/2018-2/10/2018, for a three game series.  The action begins Friday at 6:00 pm at Joe Hunter Field.  Then continues Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 pm.