LAWTON, Okla. (Feb. 7, 2012) ― Cameron got off to a great start Tuesday against its former conference foe, Southwestern Oklahoma State, but a couple of errors late in the game doomed the Aggies chances for victory, as the team fell 6-4 in nine innings.
“I thought it would be our first true test against someone who made their conference tournament last year,” said Head Coach Todd Holland. “I was proud of our guys … they played good enough to win but played bad enough to lose. We had some good, quality at bats and guys who made adjustments. But, we struck out too much as well.”
The Black and Gold (5-1, 0-0) led the Bulldogs (1-1, 0-0), 4-2, going into the ninth inning, but a series of walks, errors and miscues cost the team the victory. Jordan Watson started the top of the ninth on the mound for Cameron, after allowing only two runs through the previous eight innings, but walked the first batter he faced to get the hook.
“Jordan (Watson) did unbelievable today,” Holland said.”He showed a lot of stuff and kept us in the game. We had no earned runs today. That shows a lot about our pitching, and what they’ve been able to do so far. “
Holland then turned the reigns over to James Rhodes for his first appearance of the season, but the defense behind Rhodes struggled. Rhodes surrendered a base hit to his first batter, and allowed his second to reach on an error, which led to a crazy series of events. Thomas Galvin rushed his throw to first, causing him to miss his target badly and advancing the base runners. Taylor Lyons scooped the ball in right field, with hopes of making a play at the plate, but unfortunately for the Aggies, Lyons’ throw went wide allowing the second base runner to score and tie the game at 6.
Holland again went to the pen to bring in Aaron Kleecamp to search for a way to stop the bleeding. Kleecamp did not fare much better. While he was able to retire the first batter he faced, he ended up allowing two more runs to SWOSU, putting Cameron behind 6-4 with only the bottom of the ninth left.
The Bulldogs scored first in the game, but CU quickly answered, scoring the majority of its runs in the first inning after a lead-off double by Lyons. Lyons finished the game 3-3 with two runs scored. Josh Dawson and Brad Blummer would join Lyons on base after reaching on a fielder’s choice and walk, respectively. Tyler Cox came up with the bases loaded and delivered an RBI single up the middle to plate two runs. Blummer would come across the plate on a single by Benshell Garcia to score the final run of the inning.
Both teams would be held scoreless until the eighth inning when each team scored one run to set up the dramatic ninth inning.
“We stuck out eight times and had only one extra base hit,” the coach said. “We have to learn to make the defense make a play. We’ve got guys that aren’t doing half of what their capable of. Until everyone realizes their weaknesses, it’s hard to see how good we can be. We’ll find out what we’re made of this weekend, playing on the road and after a loss.”
Next up for the Aggies is a trip to Arkadelphia, Arkansas for a four-game series against Henderson State Friday and Saturday.
