SHERMAN, Texas (June 13th, 2024) – The Sherman Shadowcats took game three to win the series over the Fort Smith Marshals on Thursday night with a 14-12 victory.
The Marshals opened the game by scoring two runs in the top of the first. Nick Chavez (Texas A&M International) reached on a fielder’s choice that brought home Tre’en Dorsett (Stillman College) and later that inning came home on a wild pitch that made the score 2-0, Fort Smith.
Sherman was quick to answer as they scored six runs in the home half of the first. Jaylan Prince (Texas A&M Texarkana 21’) ripped a single to bring in Sandry Hernandez (Rockies DSL) to start the scoring for the Shadowcats. Two bases loaded walks followed suit to take a 3-2 lead and then back to back singles from Dillon Flores (St. Edwards), and Nick Blankenship (East Central) brought in three more runs to make it 6-2.
In the second inning, Kellen Curtis (Vernon JC) came into the ballgame for Keith Kennemer (North Central Texas College) on the mound for the Shadowcats and forced a three-up, three-down frame to push it to the bottom of the second.
The Shadowcats erupted for four more runs in the bottom of the second as they hit four singles in a row with an RBI each time to extend Sherman’s lead to 10-2.
Sherman’s eight run lead didn’t last long as the Marshals tallied six more runs in the top of the third. Chavez got the scoring started as he hit an RBI single, followed by an Ethan Whatley (Ranger College) two RBI double, and a sacrifice fly hit by Michael Speck (Spalding Univ.). Back to back RBI singles from Drake Job (Hendrix), and Ray Anthony Jaramillo (Dallas College Brookhaven) rounded out the inning making the new score 10-8, Sherman.
A one, two, three inning delivered by Marshals pitcher Will Greenwood (Cisco JC) gave Fort Smith a chance to keep their rally going.
The Marshals scored two runs in the top of the fourth to tie the game at 10-10 as Eli Merritt came home on a passed ball and Idelfonso Garcia Diaz (Cisco JC) smacked an RBI single to left field.
Sherman pulled ahead once again with a three run bottom of the fifth as Alex Rangel (Dallas College Brookhaven) touched home after a wild pitch and Prince drove in two runs on a single into left field to take a 13-10 lead.
Fort Smith kept things interesting as Diaz hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth, and CJ Snowden (South Mountain CC) scored on a Sherman throwing error to make it a 13-12 ballgame.
The Shadowcats scored their final run in the bottom of the seventh as Ryan Sessions (Redlands CC) smoked an RBI double into right center field to bring in Korson Hastings (Trinity Univ.) and push the Shadowcat lead to 14-12.
Carson Baugh (Texas Tech) came in to close the game for the Shadowcats and he did not disappoint as he struck out the final two batters swinging to secure the save.
Israel Diaz (Western Oklahoma State) was awarded the win for Sherman as Greenwood was given the loss.
The Shadowcats improve to 6-10 after the 14-12 win over the Marshals who fall to 8-9.
Sherman has a four day weekend before they play their next game against the Texarkana Rhinos on Tuesday, June 18th.
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Box Score Highlights:
Fort Smith Marshals: Runs: 12, Hits: 12, Errors: 2, Left on Base: 8
Sherman Shadowcats: Runs: 14, Hits: 13, Errors: 4, Left on Base: 8
Key Performances:
Sherman Shadowcats:
Israel Diaz: 2.0 IP, 2 Hits, 0 ER, 4 SO
Alex Rangel: 3-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 Run
Dillon Flores: 2-for-4, 3 RBI, 1 BB
Fort Smith Marshals
Steffan Fak: 3.2 IP, 2 Hits, 1 Run, 6 SO
Jett Frazier: 2-for-2, 2 Runs, 3 BB
Ethan Whatley: 3-for-5, 2 Runs, 2 RBI
