Beeville, Tx- The CBC Baseball program hosted their inaugural, Coastal Bend College Baseball Classic this past weekend. For the first game of the classic, the Cougars would face The Murray State College Aggies from Oklahoma on Thursday, February 6th.
CBC RHP, Grant Gaspard received the nod for the start. This marked Gaspard's second start of the young season.
In the First inning, the Aggies would knock in a run to take an early lead. The Cougars were finally able to string some hit's together and score a couple of runs in the Bottom of the Second. Coastal Bend took a 1-2 lead going into the Third inning.
During the Top of the Third, Murray State tacked on two runs to take a 3-2 lead. Nolan Cox entered the game to relieve Gaspard in the Third. As the game moved to the Bottom half of the Third, the Cougars bats woke up as they scored six runs in the frame.
LHP, Cox and company handled the Aggies for the next three innings, holding them to one hit. The Cougars would cross the plate a few more times, scoring three runs in the Fifth inning.
Following a scoreless Sixth inning, Coastal Bend made a pitching change as Ty Shriver entered the game to relieve Cox on the mound. Shriver completed the Seventh inning with a strikeout to help keep the Aggies off the scoreboard.
In the Bottom of the Seventh inning, CBC added another two runs to extend the lead to 10. The Cougars ended the game by run-ruling Murray State, 3-13.
LHP, Nolan Cox earned the victory, his first of the season. Cox pitched three and two thirds of an inning to go with his four strikeouts. CBC Third Baseman, Michael Villalon collected three RBI's on the night, going two for four at the plate hitting a Triple and Home Run. First Baseman Eric Martinez, Second Baseman, Landon Hiltz, and Pinch Hitter Logan Drake all hit for two RBI's during the game. Ronnie Bailey Jr., collected an RBI while hitting a Double. Right Fielder, Klayton Henderson, Left Fielder JB Trees, and Designated Hitter, Kane Mendietta each recorded an RBI in the win.
On day two of the Coastal Bend College Baseball Classic, the Cougars squared off against NJCAA's Division II, nationally ranked team (9) in the Western Oklahoma State College Pioneers. Redshirt Sophomore Pitcher, Luis Martinez got the call on the hill for CBC.
Martinez and the Cougars would make it a quick first inning to start the ball game off. Coastal Bend drew blood first with one run in the Bottom of the First to help support Martinez on the mound.
In the Top of the Second inning, CBC again worked efficiently on defense, holding the Pioneers scoreless. Moving to the bottom half of the Second inning, the Cougars were able to score another two runs as Shortstop, Bret Copeland hit a two run bomb over the Left Field fence.
Luis Martinez struck out the side to begin the Top of the Third. For the next three innings, both teams played well on defense, keeping one another from crossing home plate.
It was not until the Bottom of the Sixth inning that we would have another score, as CBC extended their to four runs. As the game proceeded to the Top of the Seventh, Martinez stayed on the mound for the Cougars. Martinez and company kept the runners off the base paths for the majority of the game. Following a Walk, Martinez regrouped and recorded a punch out for the final out of the ball game; putting an exclamation point on his performance. Martinez pitched a complete game, no-hitter.
The Cougars won the game by a final of 0-4. History had been made yet again, as Head Coach, Brian Bauerle collected his 100th victory at Coastal Bend College. It has also been noted that Bauerle's first career win was a combined no-hitter from Ben Kennedy, Colton Getschmann, and Julian Fernandez back in 2017 versus Laredo College.
For the final game of the CBC Baseball Classic, The Cougars went up against the Odessa College Wranglers on Saturday, February 8th. Coastal Bend RHP, Logan Henderson would get the ball for the classic finale.
The Wranglers scored the game's first run in the Top of the Second inning and would hold that lead until the Bottom of the Fourth. In the Bottom of the Fourth inning, CBC took the lead by scoring two runs.
During the Fifth inning, Odessa rallied for four runs to regain the lead. The Cougars answered back in the Bottom half of the Fifth, but their rally was cut short.
Coastal Bend trailed the Wranglers, 5-3 after five complete innings. Henderson had a strong outing for the Cougars, pitching four and a third of an inning. He allowed three hits, three earned runs and rung up four Wranglers for strikeouts. CBC LHP, Cobe Reeves entered the game to relieve Henderson in the fifth inning.
Later in the fifth inning, CBC Pitcher, Johnny Garza Jr made a relief appearance to replace Reeves. Garza Jr., finished out the game on the bump for CBC, pitching two and a third of an inning allowing two hits, one run and a strikeout. The Wranglers added an insurance run to sperate themselves furthermore from the Cougars in the Top of the Seventh inning.
Coastal Bend was not able to rally in the last inning, losing the game 6-3. The Cougar bats were not active, as they only recorded two hits on the afternoon. However, Coastal Bend still had plenty of opportunities to score as they reached first base 10 times due to Walks.
CBC Baseball moves to 4-3 on the year. The Cougars will be back in action on Tuesday, February 12th as they face TLU-JV in Seguin, Tx for a Double-header at 3:00 PM.