Austin College Falls to St. Thomas

SHERMAN, Texas - The Austin College baseball team dropped a 14-4 decision against the visiting University of St. Thomas on Friday evening at Baker field, as the Celts broke open a close game with a seven run sixth and the 'Roos were unable to mount a comeback. The 'Roos are now 5-13 overall and 4-9 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play.

The Celts jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first thanks to a two-run homer by Dillon McKee, but Austin College got one run back in the bottom half of the inning when Isaac Villa scored on an RBI by Jayden Ayala-Hinojosa. Easton Clark came home on a passed ball in the bottom of the second to square things up, before Gabe Garner launched a solo homer for UST in the top of the third to make it a 3-2 game.

That remained the score until the top of the sixth, when Garner got the big inning started with a two-run double down the left field line, and five more runs would come across in the inning to push it to a 10-2 game. An error by the Celts allowed Desmond Squalls to score for the 'Roos in the bottom of the sixth and Greg Smith doubled home a run in the same frame to cut it to 10-4, but St. Thomas plated four runs in the seventh to make it 14-4 and Austin College was unable to counter, ending the game after seven via the run-rule. 

Trystan Mallory absorbed the loss for Austin College, surrendering six runs on eight hits in 5.0 innings of work, while Jacob Mead got the win in relief for St. Thomas, giving up one unearned run on three hits in 3.2 innings. Villa and Squalls each had a pair of hits to pace Austin College at the plate, while McKee led the Celts with a 3-for-5 performance with three RBI. Austin College and St. Thomas will wrap up their series tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.