COLLEGE BASEBALL: OC takes series but loses game four against Amarillo College

The Odessa College baseball team won its series against Amarillo College but both teams ended up sharing the spoils in Friday’s doubleheader at Wrangler Ballpark.

Playing the second half of a four-game series in Western Junior College Athletic Conference play, the Wranglers took game three in a 7-6 win before losing game four 10-3 as Odessa College was unable to complete the sweep.

“I thought we played really well in the first game, coming from behind,” Odessa College head coach David Wood said. “It was a letdown in game two but to win the series is a big deal. We don’t scoreboard much or focus too much on the standings. We just have to play hard.”

Odessa College won the first two games of the series by scores of 11-3 and 12-2 Thursday at Wrangler Ballpark.

“When you throw strikes and command more than one pitch, you’re going to give yourself a chance to win,” Wood said. “I thought we did that in the first three games and the last game, it got away from us. We had to give some guys some innings to work and we need those guys to step up.”

The Wranglers moved to 31-12 overall, 23-5 in WJCAC while the Badgers are now 19-29, 12-16.

“A lot of teams would’ve rolled over after the first three losses but we bounced back,” Amarillo College head coach Brandon Rains said. “Odessa College is a good team and they’re well-coached. Got to tip my hat off to them.”

Both teams didn’t take long to get the runs going in game three.

The Badgers took a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning before the Wranglers responded with a two-run surge in the bottom half of the frame to tie things up.

A double by Alex Bustamante scored Eiji Sawamura and Paxton Samuelson in the bottom of the second inning to give the Wranglers a 4-2 lead.

Odessa College added to its lead when Bustamante found home on an RBI by Nathaniel Mendoza in the second inning.

Amarillo College used a four-run surge in the third inning to reclaim the lead.

The Badgers responded with a run in the top of the third inning to make it a two-run game.

The Wranglers made a pitching change, bringing out Wyatt Edwards to replace Kyle England on the mound.

The Badgers then tied the game up with a double into center field by Zyon Hamilton, scoring Gerardo Prado and Payton Bush.

Another RBI by the Badgers saw Hamilton score and the visitors retook the lead.

Odessa College scored a run in the fifth and sixth innings to retake the lead and the Wranglers held on for the series-clinching win.

Amarillo College took a 2-0 lead early on in game four.

Odessa College got a runner on third in the fourth inning but couldn’t bring him home and the hosts remained at a 2-0 deficit.

A deep hit into far-left field put a runner on second for the Badgers in the fifth.

The Badgers then hit a two-run homer by Bret Deegan to take a 4-0 lead.

Amarillo College then got a runner on third in the top of the sixth.

Bush’s RBI scored Jacob Sullens for a 5-0 Badger lead.

Amarillo College added to its lead with another RBI and the lead became 6-0.

It wasn’t long before a dust storm blew in during the top of the seventh.

It didn’t stop the Badgers as Amarillo College added two more runs for an 8-0 advantage.

A base hit by Gerardo Prado scored Bush and the visitors were at a 9-0 lead.

Odessa College finally got on the board with runs by Mendoza and Diego Alfonso-Rivera in the bottom of the seventh.

A sacrifice scored Sawamura to make it 9-3.

Amarillo College scored a run in the eighth to make it 10-3.

Odessa College got two quick outs in the bottom of the ninth before loading the bases.

Bustamante got out at first and the Wranglers couldn’t get another run.

Next up for the Wranglers is a nonconference game against Western Oklahoma State College at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Abilene.

Next for the Badgers is a 12 p.m. contest against New Mexico Military Institute Friday in Roswell, N.M. to start a four-game series against the Broncos.