HOUSTON, Texas –
Taylor Clapp hit a two-run home run in Flagler College's four-run first inning, but California State University Chico rallied to win 6-4 at the Houston Winter Invitational Saturday afternoon at Minute Maid Park.
Chico State evened its record at 1-1 while Flagler is now 0-2.
Matthew Burke added a sacrifice fly and
Simms Owens hit an RBI-single to account for the other two Flagler runs in the first.
After the that opening inning, the Saints were only able to get three baserunners into scoring position the rest of the game.
The Wildcats knotted the score with a four-run fourth. Jarret Lindsay had a two-run single in the frame.
In the fifth, Dom Meza drew a one-out walk and took second when Cameron Mahaffy was hit by a pitch. A fly out to center was deep enough to move Meza to third and a wild pitch brought him home and gave Chico State a 5-4 lead.
Chico State got then insurance run in the seventh on a squeeze play. The Wildcats had runners on the corners and one out when Lindsay dropped down a bunt. Andrew Crane, who came in to pinch run earlier in the inning, scored.
Cody Gentry (1-0) picked up the win in relief. He tossed 2.2 scoreless innings and allowed one hit. Marco Ibarra earned the save as he went 3.1 innings and kept the Saints off the scoreboard.
Lindsay had two singles and three runs batted in for Chico State. Meza finished with two singles and scored two runs while Mahaffy collected two hits and scored a run.
Brad Vondruska (0-1) took the loss for Flagler. He hurled 1.1 innings, allowed one run and walked two batters.
Tim Kudlinski collected a pair of singles and scored a run. Eight other Saints had one hit.
Flagler closes out the tournament tomorrow against the University of Central Missouri at 1 p.m. Central.
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