GOODWELL, Okla.— Panhandle State (18-21, 9-12) split day two of the series against RV Southwestern Christian (Kan.) (33-9, 15-6) as the Aggies took a pivotal victory in game two, 6-4 but dropped the final to the Eagles, 3-1 at Aggie Field on Saturday.
The Aggies got on the board early in game two, as leadoff hitter
Payton Rhodes slung the first pitch of the game over the right field fence to get the Aggies up 1-0 in the bottom of the first. A hard hit 2-RBI single from the Eagles put them up in the top of the second, but the lead would be short lived as
Gerson Padilla slammed a solo home run over the left field fence and Jake Dean followed with a triple deep to the left center wall to bring in another run. Rhodes stepped up again with a double down the left field line to bring in Dean and the Aggies took back the lead, 4-2 by the third out of the inning. Back to back singles in the third from
Kasey Leatherwood and
Jared Mayeda put runners on first and second, but both were able to move up ninety feet as a passed ball skipped by the Eagles' catcher, and an RBI single from Padilla brought Leatherwood across the plate. A sac bunt from
Jaylon Burnett further advanced the runners and single to right from Galvan plated another run to give the Aggies some more breathing room at 6-2.
SCU plated a run in both the fifth and sixth, but would not be able to catch up as the Aggies took the victory, 6-4.
Nicholas Virdo struggled slightly hitting the zone, issuing five walks on the game, but he would take the win as he gave up four runs and issued four strikeouts in his five and one-third innings pitched.
Garrison Armstrong would earn his first save of the season as he kept the Eagles at bay, allowing just one hit with no runs and striking out two.
A rubber match ensued in game three, with Joey Goetze on the mound for the Aggies and the Eagles' Del Carmen opposing. Both teams remained scoreless through three, until the fourth inning when SCU would put all three of their runs on the board. Back to back singles got two runners on, who were then advanced by a failed pickoff attempt at second. A subsequent triple on an 0-2 count in a 9-pitch at-bat scored both runners and a wild pitch turned into a close play at the plate leaned in the Eagles favor to put them up 3-0 by the end of the inning.
Chris Galvan stepped in to pinch hit for the Aggies in the seventh, taking his opportunity to single through the left side, and Dean would take his place to pinch run. A wild pitch sent Dean to second and a hard hit single to left by Rhodes brought Dean across the plate to give the Aggies a run on the board, but they would not be able to continue the rally as the Eagles took game three, 3-1.
Goetze would take the loss as he scattered seven hits and allowed the three Eagle runs, but he would hold six strikeouts to his name on the day.
Corey Ley struck out one Eagle in his single inning in relief and gave up no hits.
Padilla had himself a great series going 8-10 at the plate with a home run and bringing in 4 RBI. Rhodes saw 4-10 with 3 RBI, a double and a home run to his name, and Leatherwood was 5-8 with a double himself. Mayeda rounded out the top hitters, going 5-8 at the plate with a double on the series.
The Aggies will take to the road next weekend as they travel to face the No. 5 Oklahoma City Stars (36-10, 16-4) over Friday and Saturday (Apr. 19-20). The Sooner Athletic three-game series matchup will be the Aggies final road turn before they return home to Aggie Field for another SAC series against Mid-America Christian (Okla.) (Apr. 26-27) for their final regular season appearance.
