‘Valley Boys’ run rule Nicholls, stay undefeated in SLC

Sophomore infielder Easton Moomau runs to first base as Nicholls redshirt junior infielder Tyler Johnson catches the ball during tonight’s game at the UTRGV Baseball Stadium on the Edinburg campus.
*Angel Ballesteros/THE RIDER*

The Vaqueros offense hit three home runs and walked nine times, and junior pitcher Wyatt Wiatrek played well, as they cruised to a 13-2 run-rule victory over the Nicholls Colonels (8-11, 3-4 SLC) in tonight’s series opener at the UTRGV Baseball Stadium on the Edinburg campus.

After seeing a 7-game winning streak snapped Tuesday on the road at Southern Mississippi, UTRGV (12-3) remains undefeated in Southland Conference play (7-0).

Wiatrek (3-0) made his first start of the season as the Friday night starter. He limited Nicholls to one earned run on seven hits, striking out five Colonels in the winning effort (5.1 IP, 2R, 1ER, 5 SO, 7H).

“It’s so cool being able to come out here and start Friday night,” Wiatrek said. “From this team, what I’ve seen [all year] is a lot of fight.”

He mostly utilized his fastball early in his outing, and began incorporating his splitter as the game went on.

Despite showing good breaking stuff early, Colonels junior starter Michael Lindsay (0-2) unraveled on the mound, allowing six walks and two wild pitches in the losing effort (2.2 IP, 7R, 5ER, 3SO, 4H, 6BB).

UTRGV Baseball head coach Derek Matlock said, “you couldn’t ask for a better start to a frigin’ weekend series.”

“Wyatt [Wiatrek] did a good job of getting after them on the mound,” Matlock said. “Our philosophy [offensively] was to get [Lindsey] into the stretch where he wasn’t as good as his windup.”

After a scoreless first inning, the Vaqueros got some two-out lightning to open the scoring. After a Jacob Sanchez single, they were patient at the plate, drawing three straight walks off Lindsey.

Nicholls senior outfielder Chase Jans runs back to first base as graduate infielder Jacob Sanchez prepares to catch the ball during tonight’s game at the UTRGV Baseball Stadium on the Edinburg campus. The Vaqueros defeated Nicholls State University 13-2.
*Angel Ballesteros/THE RIDER*

Following a bases loaded walk by center fielder Damien Whitfield, shortstop Isaac Lopez singled to right field to drive in two runs, giving UTRGV a three spot to make it 3-0 Vaqueros

The Colonels immediately answered in the top of the third. With two outs, designated hitter Jaden Collura blasted a double to right center field to drive in left fielder Chase Jans for Nicholls’ first run of the game.

Vaqueros right fielder Hank Warren singled in the bottom of the third to make it 5-1 UTRGV, and another Whitfield walk immediately after closed the book on Lindsey.

The Vaqueros scored a pair of runs after an error by shortstop Fisher Ingersoll and a bases-loaded walk, extending their lead to 7-1 in the third.

In the top of the fourth, Ingersoll hit into an RBI groundout to first, scoring the second run for the Colonels.

UTRGV immediately answered back and then some. Back to back solo home runs by designated hitter Armani Raygoza and first baseman Jacob Sanchez made it 9-2 in the bottom of the fourth.

Catcher Steven Lancia clubbed a two-run home run deep into the Edinburg night to give the Vaqueros a 10-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth.

Colonels reliever Woody Brennan balked in a run in the bottom of the sixth to pad UTRGV’s lead to 13-2.

Vaqueros graduate pitcher Angelo Cabral came into the game, and struck out two Colonels looking to close the books on a 13-2 run-rule victory for UTRGV. The series continues tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. against Nicholls.