Galveston, Tx-  Coastal Bend College Baseball is now in full swing! The Cougar began the season on the road this past weekend at the Galveston College Invitational with games versus Alvin Community College, Wharton County Junior College, and Galveston College. 

CBC faced off against ACC on Friday, January 31st for their season opener. The Dolphins would cross the plate first, in the bottom half of the first inning to take a 0-1 lead on the Cougars. The second inning went scoreless by both clubs. 

After another scoreless frame in the top of the third inning, Alvin opened up the game by scoring four runs in the bottom half of the inning. It was not until the top of the fourth inning when Coastal Bend would finally get a run on the board. Catcher, Ronnie Bailey Jr., touched Home Plate for the run. 

For the remainder of the nine inning ball game, the Cougars had a difficult time reaching base as they combined for only four hits and four walks. The Dolphins added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning as they went on to win, 1-6. 

Coastal Bend Designated Hitter, Kane Mendietta hit a double, while Eric Martinez, Argelio Guajardo and Ronnie Bailey Jr., hit singles. Grant Gaspard received the nod for the Cougars season opener, he pitched two and two thirds of an inning, allowing three hits, five runs and four walks to go with his two strikeouts.

Johnny Garza entered the game to relieve Gaspard in the bottom of the third inning. Garza struck out six Dolphins and did not allow a hit during his season debut on the mound. Left Handed Pitcher, Devin Aguado also saw action on the mound, as he pitched two innings for CBC. Aguado surrendered one hit and one walk as he struck out three batters. 

Next up, the Cougars played against Wharton County Junior College. CBC jumped on the scoreboard quickly with two runs in top of the first. 

Sophomore Pitcher, Luis Martinez would be on the bump for Coastal Bend. The Cougars would increase their lead in the top of the third, by having two runners cross Home Plate. Martinez and company managed to keep the Pioneers off the scoreboard in the first three innings. 

Wharton County Junior College was able to get on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning, when they scored two runs. Coastal Bend answered right back in the following inning by scoring three runs of their own to lead 7-2. 

Following a scoreless sixth inning, the Pioneers cut into their deficit in the bottom of the seventh with three runs. CBC was not able to respond in the eighth inning, but with the game now 7-5, WCJC squandered an opportunity to tie or gain the lead in the bottom half of the inning.

In the top of the ninth inning, Coastal Bend added some much need insurance with two runs. The Pioneers threatened to make a comeback, but fell short once Alec Cruz entered the game to slam the door shut for the Save.  CBC won the game by a final score of 9-6.

The Cougars had a driving force of long balls in their first win of the season. Center Fielder, Argelio Guajardo, Right Fielder, Klayton Henderson, Left Fielder, Ryan Howell and First Baseman, Eric Martinez each hit Home Runs. Henderson and Howell each hit a two run shots, while Third Baseman/Pitcher, Michael Villalon went two for five with a double and three rbi's for the game. 

Martinez finished the game with six complete innings, allowing four hits, two earned runs and striking out 11 batters. Villalon pitched two innings, giving up four walks while striking out six Pioneers. Cruz finished the game with one inning and three strikeouts.

For the final game of the invitational, Coastal Bend would go up against the home team, the Galveston College Whitecaps. Coastal Bend aimed for a victory, and that's just what they earned!

The Cougars again started out hot, as they scored two runs in the top of the first inning. GC did not get on the board until the bottom of the second inning when they scored one run to cut the Coastal Bend lead in half. 

CBC immediately responded with one run in the top of the third inning. As the game progressed, the Cougars would extend their lead in both the top of the fifth and sixth innings by scoring one run in each to lead, 5-1. 

The Whitecaps attempted to rally late in the game by scoring one run in the bottom of the seventh inning, but that was short lived as Cobe Reeves capped off the game with a Save. 

Starting Pitcher, Logan Henderson completed his outing with four innings pitcher only allowing one hit, one run, six walks and five strikeouts. Reeves pitched three complete innings, giving up only two hits, one run and recording four punch outs. 

CBC Right Fielder, Klayton Henderson knocked in a single and double for an rbi. Left Fielder, Ryan Howell recorded a two rbi single during the game. Catcher, Haldamel Perez and Designated Hitter, Kane Mendietta both hit rbi singles in the win. 

Wharton, Tx-  On Sunday, February 2nd, Coastal Bend made their way back home to Beeville, but not before making a pit stop in Wharton, Tx for a nine inning ball game. Sunday's baseball game vs the Pioneers marked the first official game at the new, Corbett Park Baseball Field at WCJC. 

For the third game in a row, CBC would find the scoreboard in the first inning. The Cougars were able to score one run. Not to be deterred, Wharton tied up the ball game in the bottom half of the first inning. Both teams went scoreless in the second inning. 

In the top of the third inning, Left Fielder, Ryan Howell hit a three run bomb to put the Cougars up, 4-1. However, in the bottom of the third, the Pioneers answered back with four runs to take a 4-5 lead over CBC. 

The game did not see its next score until the top of the sixth inning when Coastal Bend regained the lead, 7-5 by scoring three runs in the frame. WCJC did not give up as they went on to score one run in each, the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings to knot up the game at seven.

Following a scoreless ninth innng by both clubs, the game proceeded into the 10th inning. Coastal Bend had their opportunites in the inning, but did not capitalize on their chances. The Pioneers went on to score the game winning run in the bottom half of the 10th to win, 7-8. 

Howell finished the game with three rbi's while Catcher, Ronnie Bailey Jr., finished with two rbi's on the day. Shortstop, Bret Copeland and Klayton Henderson both recorded rbi single's for the contest.

Left Handed Pitcher, Klayton Henderson made his season debut on the mound, Sunday. Henderson pitched two and a third of an inning, giving up six hits, five runs to go with his three strikeouts. Sophomore Lefty, Nolan Cox relieved Henderson, going six and two thirds of an inning for CBC. Cox allowed three hits and two runs while striking out four Pioneers.

Coastal Bend will make their home debut on Thursday, February 6th as they host Murray State College at 6:00 PM at Joe Hunter Field. The Cougars will also be hosting the Coastal Bend Classic this weekend, as they face Western Oklahoma State Colelge on Friday, February 7th at 8:00 PM and Odessa College on Saturday, February 8th at 2:00 PM.