Hunt Breaks Program Record in Walk-Off Win Against Pioneers

By: Chris Schraer, Ast. SID

Baseball | 4/14/2022 6:43:00 PM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 GOODWELL, Okla. - The Oklahoma Panhandle State baseball team split the day one doubleheader against the Wayland Baptist University Pioneers.

The series opener showed the resilience of the Aggie baseball team. While trailing by as many as five runs in the contest they battled back to walk it off in extra innings.

Game two of the doubleheader would not be as generous to the Aggie team. A pitchers' duel for the majority of the game would fall through in the back end of the contest for Panhandle State.

A heated rivalry exists between the Pioneers and the Aggies. Head Coach Shawn Joy knows the importance that this conference series has for the team. "Game one was exciting and fun. It was a good win. Very disappointed we didn't put our foot down and finish game two."

Game 1

In the back end of their conference slate, Panhandle State looked to solidify their position going into the last few weeks before the conference tournament. The Aggies have had their fair share of struggles against the Pioneers in the past, yet they pushed beyond those struggles to pull out the nine-inning walk-off win.

Juan Javier would designate the start for the Aggies but would not factor into the decision. Going six and two-thirds innings and giving up only three earned runs off seven hits. Javier would also achieve his season-high in strikeouts with eight.

Colton Anderson would be the first out of the pen in the seventh to sit down the Pioneers and give the Aggies a chance in the bottom half of the inning. Doing so by getting a quick flyout. Anderson's day would not be done as the Aggies would tie it in the bottom of the inning. He would finish the contest for the Aggies and earn the win for his two and a third innings of work.

Unlike many games of the season, the Aggies found themselves trailing early on in the game. With the Pioneers taking a quick two-to-nothing lead in the first inning. Freshman left fielder Hunter Hutchinson would cut that lead in half by belting a leadoff triple to left-center and later score off a Pioneer pass ball.

Wayland Baptist would answer back with three runs of their own in the fourth and fifth innings. Ethan Hunt would bring around Ryan Mitchell to get the Aggies back on the board in the bottom of the fifth. Jonathan Applebury would scratch another one for the Aggies with an RBI single to score Hunt.

Trailing into the bottom of the seventh, the Aggies had the top of their order heading to the plate in the hopes of extending the ball game. Hutchinson would lead off with an infield single before being moved to second base by Luis Dermas. Ethan Hunt would once again come up big for the Aggies. Belting his twelfth home run of the season to tie the game up at seven.

Both teams would struggle to get runners on base for their first go around in extra innings. However, both would find some momentum in the ninth. The Pioneers would bring around one run to once again take the lead off Anderson.

Eerily similar to the bottom of the seventh, the Aggies would send their top of the order to the plate to try and pull out the win. Hutchinson would lead off the inning with a walk before being moved over by a sacrifice bunt from Dermas. Hunt and Applebury would both be walked to load the bases for Manrique Mora. After a pitching change, the Pioneers walked Mora to bring around the tying run for the Aggies. Sending freshman third baseman Dylan Hughs to the plate. Hughs would send a ball to right field to allow Hunt to score and walk off the game. 7-6.

Ethan Hunt now holds the program record for single-season home runs (12) for Panhandle State. Breaking a fifty-year record previously set by Tom Ward.

Game 2

The second game of the day would play in the favor of the pitchers for both sides. Neither team would find the scoreboard till the last three innings of the contest.

Braeden LeJarraga would notch his first start of the season. Earning his second loss of the season after tossing six and two-thirds innings and allowing five runs on twelve hits. Tate Nebhut would also see the mound in the game but only achieved a single out.

The last game of the doubleheader proved to be a difficult one for the Aggie hitters. While they weren't plagued with strikeouts like previous games, weak contact, double-plays, and pop-ups hindered their ability to get on base and score runs. Only four Aggies managed a hit in game two.

Panhandle State baseball returns for their series finale against the Wayland Baptist Pioneers Friday, April 15th at 12 PM.

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Players Mentioned

#29 Braeden LeJarraga: Sophomore

#4 Tate Nebhut: Freshman

#20 Dylan Hughs: Freshman

#7 Luis Dermas: Senior

#22 Jonathan Applebury: Senior

#3 Hunter Hutchinson: Freshman

#45 Ryan Mitchell: Sophomore

#27 Ethan Hunt: Senior

#2 Colton Anderson: Sophomore

#15 Juan Javier: Freshman

Players Mentioned

#29 Braeden LeJarraga
: Sophomore

#4 Tate Nebhut
: Freshman

#20 Dylan Hughs
: Freshman

#7 Luis Dermas
: Senior

#22 Jonathan Applebury
: Senior

#3 Hunter Hutchinson
: Freshman

#45 Ryan Mitchell
: Sophomore

#27 Ethan Hunt
: Senior

#2 Colton Anderson
: Sophomore

#15 Juan Javier
: Freshman