Apaches Split Doubleheader Against Northeast Texas

Tyler, TX- The Apaches saw both highs and lows in their doubleheader against Northeast Texas Community College, claiming a hard-fought 3-2 victory in Game 1, but ultimately falling 9-6 in Game 2 despite a late-game rally.

Game 1: Apaches Take Early Lead and Hold Off Northeast Texas

The Apaches started the day strong with a solid performance in Game 1, coming away with a 3-2 victory. TJC jumped on the board early, scoring in the first inning when Finn Kaiyala singled, bringing home Troy Johnson for a 1-0 lead. Johnson would be a key contributor to the win, adding another RBI in the second inning with a double that scored Garrett Hayes, increasing the lead to 2-0.

Northeast Texas fought back in the third inning, tying the game at 2-2 thanks to RBI singles. The Apaches reclaimed the lead in the fourth when Johnson grounded out to third, scoring Grayson Lincecum and putting TJC back on top 3-2.

From there, the pitching staff took over. Kade Budd, who earned the win after four solid innings, allowed just two earned runs on five hits, striking out four. Austin Shirley came in for two innings of scoreless relief, followed by R. Tolbert and Tyler Chapman, who closed out the game. Chapman earned the save with a perfect final inning, securing the Apaches' victory.

Key performances in Game 1 came from Johnson, who had a double and two RBIs, and Kaiyala, who contributed an RBI single. The Apaches' defense was solid, with Finn Kaiyala and Landry Stamps turning a double play in the game's later innings to seal the win.

Game 2: Apaches Fall Short Despite Late Rally

In Game 2, the Apaches found themselves on the wrong end of a 9-6 score despite an impressive late-game rally. Northeast Texas wasted no time taking control, with a 2-0 lead in the first inning thanks to a clutch two-RBI single from J. Gonzales. The Apaches' defense struggled early, allowing a few unearned runs in the second and third innings as Northeast Texas extended their lead to 4-0.

The Apaches were able to scratch a run across in the third inning when Gabe Flores delivered a sacrifice fly to score Lathan Van Ausdall. Van Ausdall would later ignite the offense with a solo home run in the fifth inning, bringing TJC closer at 4-2.

However, Northeast Texas continued to push ahead, adding to their lead with three runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh. The Apaches found themselves down 9-2 heading into the final inning.

With their backs against the wall, the Apaches mounted a fierce comeback in the ninth inning. Stamps led the charge with a two-run home run, bringing James Raecek home to pull the Apaches within striking distance at 9-4. Risenhoover followed up with a two-run blast of his own, scoring Sawyer Dunagan and narrowing the deficit to 9-6. Despite the late surge, the Apaches couldn't muster enough offense to complete the comeback, ultimately falling short.

Key Performances in Game 2

Despite the loss, there were several standout performances. Van Ausdall continued his excellent play, going 3-for-3 with a home run and an RBI. Risenhoover and Stamps also contributed with home runs in the final inning, showing the Apaches' resilience even when down by a large margin. Chris Langley and Jake White came in to toss scoreless innings in relief, showing some bright spots for the Apaches' bullpen.

The Apaches are now 12-7 on the season and 1-3 in conference play. They will traveling to Bossier Parish this weekend to face off in a two game series on Saturday, March 1st at 1 and 3 pm.