TEXARKANA, Ark. (June 23, 2024) — The Sherman Shadowcats began their 11-game road trip with a dramatic doubleheader against the Texarkana Rhinos at George Dobson Field on Tuesday night. In Game 1, the Shadowcats fell in a narrow 9-8 defeat, with the Rhinos staging a walk-off win in the bottom of the seventh inning. However, Sherman bounced back in Game 2, securing a thrilling 9-7 victory to split the doubleheader and start the road trip on a positive note.
Box Score (Game One)
Box Score (Game Two)
Game One Summary:
The Rhinos took an early lead in the bottom of the second inning when Second Baseman Ryland Evans (Pacific) doubled down the left-field line, driving in Shortstop Gabriel Natividad (San Joaquin Delta), making it 1-0.
Sherman responded in the top of the third inning with an offensive burst. Center Fielder Jacob Cruz (Navarro Junior College) stole second base while Left Fielder Sandry Hernandez (Colorado Rockies DSL) scored, tying the game 1-1. A triple to right field by Third Baseman Korson Hastings (Trinity University) brought in Cruz, giving the Shadowcats a 2-1 lead. Left Fielder Ryan Sessions (Redlands Community College) then flied out to center field for a sacrifice fly, allowing Hastings to score and extend the lead to 3-1.
Texarkana answered in the bottom of the fifth. Designated Hitter Matt Beuka (Anna Maria) doubled to left center, driving in Catcher Sebastian Huerta (Western Texas College) and Right Fielder Sota Suzuki (Meijyo University). Despite Center Fielder Wyatt Cunningham (Montevallo) being thrown out at third, the Rhinos tied it 3-3. Left Fielder Ian Guanzon (San Joaquin Delta) singled down the left-field line, driving in Beuka to reclaim the lead for Texarkana at 4-3.
Sherman tied the game again in the top of the sixth when Designated Hitter Tyson Woodland (Centenary College of Louisiana) singled to right field and advanced to second on a right fielder’s error, allowing Shortstop Alex Rangel (Dallas College Brookhaven) to score, making it 4-4.
The Shadowcats pulled ahead in the top of the seventh with a rally. Hastings singled to center, driving in First Baseman Easton Ford (Redlands Community College) to make it 5-4. Catcher Dillon Flores (St. Edwards University) followed with a double to left field, bringing in Sessions and Hastings, pushing the lead to 7-4. Hernandez then singled to center, scoring Flores and extending Sherman’s lead to 8-4.
However, the Rhinos mounted a final rally in the bottom of the seventh. Suzuki scored on an error, cutting the lead to 8-5. Guanzon then singled to left, bringing in Beuka, making it 8-6. Pinch Hitter Antonio Sabala (Oklahoma Christian) reached on a fielder’s choice, allowing Cunningham to score, narrowing it to 8-7. A groundout by Left Fielder Jackson Glymph (Blinn CC) scored Natividad, tying the game at 8-8. Finally, Suzuki singled to right field, bringing in the winning run as the Rhinos walked off with a 9-8 victory.
Game One Box Score Highlights:
Sherman Shadowcats:
Runs: 8, Hits: 13, Errors: 2, Left on Base: 10
Texarkana Rhinos:
Runs: 9, Hits: 9, Errors: 2, Left on Base: 4
Game One Key Performances:
Sherman Shadowcats:
Sandry Hernandez (CF, Colorado Rockies DSL): 3-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI
Jacob Cruz (LF, Navarro Junior College): 1-for-4, 1 R, 2 SB
Korson Hastings (3B, Trinity University): 2-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 3B
Ryan Sessions (LF, Redlands Community College): 2-for-3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 Sac Fly
Dillon Flores (C, St. Edwards University): 1-for-3, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 2B
Texarkana Rhinos:
Matt Beuka (DH, Anna Maria): 2-for-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 2B
Ian Guanzon (LF, San Joaquin Delta): 2-for-4, 1 R, 2 RBI
Sota Suzuki (2B, Meijyo University): 2-for-3, 2 R, 1 RBI
Pitching:
Sherman: Tanner Carter (Tarleton State University) pitched 6.2 innings, allowing 9 runs (8 earned) on 9 hits, with 4 walks and 4 strikeouts.
Texarkana: Christian Rosales (Moraine Valley CC) pitched 6.0 innings, giving up 6 runs (5 earned) on 10 hits, with 3 walks and 3 strikeouts.
Game Two Summary:
The Sherman Shadowcats took an early lead, capitalizing on offensive opportunities in the second and third innings. Alex Rangel (Dallas College Brookhaven) started the scoring with a double to left field, bringing in Cole Carnes (Fort Scott CC). Santiago Hernandez (Colorado Rockies DSL) followed suit with a single to center, advancing to second on the play and adding another run. A fielding error by the Rhinos allowed Zach Henry (University of Texas at Arlington) to reach base, extending Sherman’s lead to 3-0 by the end of the second inning.
In the third, Sherman continued to press, benefiting from errors by Texarkana’s pitcher and infield. Despite defensive miscues, the Rhinos mounted a formidable response in the bottom half of the inning, narrowing the gap to 4-4 with a string of hits and a Sherman error.
The back-and-forth affair persisted into the later innings. Korson Hastings (Trinity University) delivered a crucial RBI single in the fourth, reclaiming the lead for Sherman at 5-4. However, Texarkana’s Jackson Glymph (Blinn CC) countered with a two-RBI single in the bottom of the inning, swinging the advantage back to the Rhinos, 6-5.
The sixth inning saw Jacob Eccles (Southwestern University) step up for Sherman with a clutch single, driving in two runs and giving the Shadowcats a 7-6 edge. Texarkana responded once more in the bottom half, leveling the score at 7-7 with a sacrifice fly from Glymph.
With the game tied in the seventh and final inning, Easton Ford (Redlands Community College) and Cole Carnes produced timely hits, pushing Sherman ahead 9-7. The Shadowcats’ bullpen held Texarkana in check until the bottom of the seventh, when the Rhinos rallied. Antonio Sabala (Oklahoma Christian) delivered a crucial hit, driving in a run and setting up the game-winning scenario for Texarkana, 9-8.
Game Two Box Score Highlights:
Sherman Shadowcats:
Runs: 9, Hits: 13, Errors: 1, Left on Base: 13
Key Performers:
Sandry Hernandez: 1-for-4, 2 R, 1 RBI
Zach Henry: 1-for-4, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB
Easton Ford: 4-for-5, 1 RBI
Cole Carnes: 2-for-3, 2 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB
Texarkana Rhinos:
Runs: 9, Hits: 7, Errors: 3, Left on Base: 10
Key Performers:
Rylan Evans: 1-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 R
Jackson Glymph: 1-for-2, 3 RBI
Yuto Mimura: 1-for-3, 1 RBI
Next Up:
The Shadowcats continue their road trip with their series finale against the Texarkana Rhinos starting on Monday at 7:05 p.m. Sherman looks to take home the series win. Follow us on Twitter at @Sherman_M_A for live updates and more team news.
