Baseball
 

March 29, 2009

Tigers Fall in Key SCAC Game at Hendrix

Conway, Arkansas - The Hendrix College Warriors took the final game of the SCAC series with the Tigers in a 9-7 victory Sunday at Warrior Field.

Hendrix won two of the three games, splitting the doubleheader on Saturday. The Warriors also won the season series 3-2, as the two teams split two games on Feb. 28 and March 1 on the Trinity campus. Hendrix (12-18, 7-8 SCAC) is in third place in the SCAC West, two games ahead of fourth-place Trinity (14-15, 5-6 SCAC).

The Warriors took a 5-1 lead Sunday, after scoring three runs n the first inning and two in the second. Trinity scored a run in the opening inning, as senior designated hitter Jordan Pennington singled through the left side, driving in sophomore left fielder Kevin Jackson.

Trinity closed to 4-5, through the top of the fifth inning. Pennington hit a solo home run to right field in the fourth inning, his eighth homer of the season. The Tigers scored two runs in the fifth, starting with an RBI single to center field by senior shortstop Stosh Hoover. Senior third baseman Steven Ramos scored for the Tigers. Pennington again came into play as he got on base by an infielder’s error. Sophomore center fielder John Paillet then scored from third base, on the error.

Hendrix first baseman Jeff Forgerson hit a lead-off homer to right field (his eighth of the campaign) in the bottom of the fifth, as the Warriors led 6-4. Hendrix put up two more runs in the sixth, to lead 8-4. The Warriors had two runs, four hits and took advantage of a Trinity error. Ramos threw out Hendrix shortstop Matt Gaglio at home plate, with sophomore Kyle Felix doing the catcher’s honors.

The Tigers rallied with three runs in the seventh inning and closed to 7-8. Hoover started the rally with a single through the left side, scoring Jackson. Pennington cracked a single to right field, and Paillet scored again. Junior first baseman Evan Jones picked up an RBI, as he reached first on a fielder’s choice. Hoover crossed the plate for the Tigers. 

Hendrix put the final run on the board, as second baseman Clark Sims had an RBI single in the seventh inning. Both teams were retired on order in the eighth inning. Hoover singled in the top of the ninth, but three Tigers struck out.

Pennington batted 3-5 with three RBIs, a home run, and one run scored. Hoover went 3-5 with two RBIs and a run. Sophomore right fielder Dylan Early batted 3-4, along with his sixth double of the season. Paillet hit 1-4, with his fifth double, and scored two runs.

Forgerson hit 3-5 with four RBIs for Hendrix, and scored one run. Sims was 3-5 with two RBIs and two runs.

Tiger first-year right-hander Ben Klimesh (0-5) was the starter and pitcher of record, going one inning. Dave Keine pitched six innings for Hendrix and picked up the win. Keine improved to 4-2. Spencer Hansen hurled the final three innings and registered his second save of the season.

The Tigers continue their SCAC campaign next Saturday and Sunday in Sherman, Texas, with Austin College. Saturday’s doubleheader starts at 1 p.m. and Sunday’s single game begins at noon. Trinity returns home Tuesday, April 7, to host the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor at 7 p.m. in a non-conference game.