Familiar Faces Propel Tigers to Win #1

Transfer Beau Becker would toe the slab in the Tigers' opener against Shawnee State this Saturday. Becker would look good in his Tiger debut, but struggle managing a tight knit zone, and control, but would still work into the 5th inning giving the Tigers a chance. He would exit with one out in the 5th, and the bases loaded. Head coach Randy Guite would call on trusted lefty Mason Mortimer to get them out of the jam. Mortimer has a tendency to come into situations where the odds do not favor him, but Mortimer would step up to the challenge. After four pitches, Mortimer and the Tigers were headed back to the dugout without any harm done. Mortimer would get the next five outs, but slight command issues would call for another pitching change. Chris Lenocker, making his Tiger debut, would enter in another tight situation that could have had major implications on the outcome. However, Lenocker would follow in the footsteps of Mortimer, and navigate out of trouble and strike out the batter to end the inning. Lenocker would get the 8th as well, but give up 3 runs to make the score 10-5. Sophomore Ashton Deskins would pitch the 9th, and be outright dominant. Sitting at 87 for the entire inning, Deskins would K the side. Mortimer picks up his first win of the year, moving to 1-0.

A mixture of familiar faces would lead the offensive attack for the Tigers. 2023 1st All-Conference members Joshua Duarte and Jarrett Chapman would combine for 5 hits and 3 rbi. Together, they combined for nearly half of both the team's rbi and hits. However, sophomore Landon Dismang, making his Tiger and collegiate debut, would also contribute a duo of hits that showed maturity and discipline. 

The 6-run 7th was the Tigers breakout inning which was started out by a Joey Lapolla walk. He would then steal second, and be in scoring position for Julian Huerta. Being Huerta's first at bat of the day, after he replaced an injured Payton Rios, would drive Lapolla in on a double. Duarte would then hit a double to plate another run. The Tigers would then add two more runs on a walk and hit-by-pitch. The dagger came when Lapolla, who started out the inning, came up with bases loaded, worked a 13 pitch at-bat, and on lucky number 13 delivered a 2-run single through the left side.