Defense Falters as Tigers Lose Winstreak
A combination of poor fielding and starting pitching is never a winning recipe. Josiah Zamora got the start in game one of two, which was supposed to be a doubleheader, that only ended up being one game due to darkness and the lack of lights. Zamora's day on the mound was not as smooth as he would have hoped for it to be, as he was only able to get ten outs before being removed. In the second, Huntington would scratch one run across to tie the game at 1-0. All would go well in the third, as he would strike two batters out. In the 4th inning is when it would all go downhill for both the Tigers and Zamora. HU would score 7 runs in the inning. It started with a double and then a 2-run homerun by the very next batter. Zamora would then hit the next batter, and walk 2 of the next 3 to have the bases loaded with one out. That would be it for Zamora as coach Randy Guite would go to the 'pen for reliever Julian Huerta. Huerta, who has been solid for the Tigers this year and coming in close situations and getting outs was unable to today as he would allow 5 runs to cross while on the mound. Christian Santillanes would be called upon next, and work an easy 5th inning. In the 6th, Santillanes would be hurt by his defense when shortstop Jarrett Chapman would commit two errors in the inning to allow both runs to score. Chapman had a rough day in the field, as he would commit all 4 of the Tigers errors on the day. Pasquale DeFilippis would be next in line and get the last three outs for the Tigers by striking two out and working around an error. The lone Tiger pitching bright spot had to be that they only walked two batters on the day and struck eight out.
Starting off quickly has been the theme for the Tigers offense in the majority of their games, and today they stuck with that theme. The Tigers scored three in the first three innings thanks to a home run number three from Nick Lopez, a sac-fly from Lopez, and a rbi-single from Hunter Klingelhoffer. The bats would go quiet until the 6th when Joshua Duarte would single home the 4th run of the game for the Tigers. Jarrett Chapman would score the last run for the Tigers on a Payton Rios ground out. Hank Schineller and Bryan Sanders both had good days at the plate as they both had two hits.
The Tigers are back in action this upcoming weekend for the opening series for MSC action as they head to Freed-Hardeman for a 3-game series. Game 1 is on Friday night at 6 PM. Games 2 and 3 are on Saturday, at 1 and 4 PM.