Kerbel’s one-out single in the third sparked the Tiger baseball team to a four-run inning that carried Consol to a 4-2 victory and a District 19-5A sweep of Rudder at Tiger Field.
The hit set the table for a snowball inning as Colson Sledge followed with a triple to the right-center field fence and the first run of the game. Sledge also scored when the throw from the outfield to third sailed off target.
“The team enjoys seeing each other succeed, so that was big for [Kerbel] to come up in a big spot like that,” Consol coach Ryan Lennerton said. “We had a rough week. We had a couple big time injuries, and that’s why he’s with us. For him to succeed in that spot is awesome. The guys are really happy for him.”
Connor Kaiser drew a walk, then Justin Conrad and Brandon Bishop followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases and keep the inning going. Josh Hernandez singled to right-center to plate two and stretch Consol’s lead to 4-0.
It was the only runs the Tigers (12-8-1, 6-2) scored as Rudder starter Elias Chavarria was otherwise solid despite dealing with some tenderness in his elbow. Chavarria gave up just one hit and a walk in his other three innings, but the damage was done during the four-run, five-hit third.
“He gave us everything that he could,” Rudder coach Chase Sanford said. “I was very proud of him coming back in the fourth after they scored those runs. This was probably one of our cleanest games defensively. We’re really young, and we’re still moving guys around trying to find the right spots. I was proud of the way we played defense today.”
Rudder Logan Bosley took over in the fifth and was unhittable, retiring all six batters he faced while striking out five.
While the Rangers (5-13-1, 3-5) were solid on the mound, they couldn’t quite put together enough hits to complete a comeback.
The Tigers were stellar on defense while backing up starting pitcher Jack Hamilton and keeping Rudder off the scoreboard through the first four innings.
The Rangers finally caught a break in the fifth when Jace Garcia led off the frame with a double to right field. Garcia took third on a ground out before scoring on a passed ball.
Daniel Pugh took over on the mound for Hamilton in the sixth and got in trouble when Bosley reached on an error. Rudy Schultz’s pop-up to short left field dropped between fielders, then both runners advanced on a wild pitch.
Ethan Guajardo singled to center field to plate Bosley, but Rudder squandered its two-on, no-out opportunity with a fielder’s choice, a ground out and a fly out.
Pugh then struck out the side in the seventh to end it.
Hamilton got the win after giving up one run on three hits, one walk and two hit batters while striking out two.
“[Hamilton] did a good job competing,” Lennerton said. “His breaking ball was a little better than it had been. He did a great job. I was happy with the way Jack threw the ball tonight.”
The Tigers continue district play Tuesday against College Station while Rudder visits Brenham.
A&M Consolidated 4, Rudder 2
Rudder 000 011 0 — 2 5 1
Consol 004 000 x — 4 6 1
Elias Chavarria, Logan Bosley (5) and Rudy Schultz; Jack Hamilton, Daniel Pugh (6) and David Pugh.
W — Hamilton. L — Chavarria.
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