Tigers Offense Erupts in Sweep of Pikeville

Looking to win their 5th consecutive game, the Tigers would turn to Julian Huerta. Huerta would make his second start of the year, and turn in another quality start for a Tiger pitching staff that has carried up to this point. Huerta would give up 3 runs over 5 innings, after allowing a run in the first, and a 2-run homer in the 3rd. 

The offense would get on the board in the 2nd and tie the game at 1 after Jarrett Chapman would leave the park. They would get back in the run column in the third. The first of six runs in the inning would come from a Joshua Duarte single to plate home Jacob Dezarn. With Duarte at third, Landon Dismang reached on an error to score Duarte. With two outs, the offense started to rally. A single from Payton Rios gave the Tigers runners on 1st and 2nd. Chapman would double to left to plate home Dismang, making it 4-1. Justin Starkey would continue his clutch hitting by singling to left plating home both runs. Starkey would score the last run of the inning on an error, making it 7-1.

After Pikeville hit a 2-run homer, the offense would get back to scoring. A Duarte double and Dismang walk and steal gave the Tigers runners on 2nd and 3rd with no out. Hank Schineller singled to right to plate home Duarte. Dismang would come around to score after an error, getting back the two runs they gave up in the prior inning. The Tigers would get back in the scoring in the 5th, which was highlighted by a 2-run homerun from Schineller. The other runs came off a single from Dismang and a sac-fly from Duarte, pushing the Tigers lead after 5 to 13-3. 

After 5 quality innings from Huerta, Jared Casebier would be relied on out of the 'pen. UPIKE would get on the board in the 6th after a solo home run, and would be all that they muster in that inning. The 7th saw four consecutive hits and two runs scored, cutting the Tigers lead to 13-6. Nikayha Castro would be turned to for the first time this season, and be in search of three essential outs to secure the sweep of the doubleheader. Castro would walk the first batter, but bounce right back and swap and out for a run. Castro would then strike out the next two batters to close it out. Huerta picks up the win to move to 1-1 on the year. 

The offense was spearheaded by Chapman, who was 3 for 4 with two extra base hits and two rbi. Other contributors were Duarte and Schineller, who had multi-hit games and several rbi. 8 of 9 Tiger starters got a hit.