Bulldogs Off to Best Start to SCAC Play in Program History; Sweep Austin College

SHERMAN, Texas -- Texas Lutheran combined to score 23 runs in Saturday's doubleheader to complete a series sweep of the Austin College 'Roos, defeating the 'Roos 12-1 in seven innings in game one and 11-3 in game two, at Baker Field in Sherman on Saturday. The two wins move their road winning streak to 12 games and their overall win streak to 11 games as the Bulldogs improve to 22-7 (11-1 SCAC) on the season.

Zach Longshore (Richmond/Fort Bend Travis) was dominant on the mound. The true freshman left-hander held the 'Roos to three hits and no runs in 5.1 innings of action fanning two Austin College batters.

TLU's bats continued to dominate as Texas Lutheran combined for 12 hits and registered seven walks to score 12 runs in game one.

The TLU offensive started in the first inning with a two-run home run from Joe Jimenez (San Antonio/Johnson). Texas Lutheran would score in every inning but the fifth and seventh innings.

In the second inning, Aric Vasquez (San Antonio/Brandeis) would score on a sacrifice fly from Blake Cappadona (Mont Belvieu/Barbers Hill) as TLU took a 3-0 lead.

Tyler Post (San Antonio/Johnson), Zac Nguyen (Houston/Memorial), and Payton Dahl (Round Rock/Cedar Ridge) would all drive in runs in the third as the Bulldogs would tack on four more runs to extend their lead to 7-0.

Jimenez would drive in another run in the fourth to bring the Bulldogs lead to 8-0.

Texas Lutheran would pour on four more runs in the sixth inning with RBIs from Alec Sanchez (Waxahachie/Waxahachie), Aric Vasquez, Payton Dahl, and Holden Philippus (San Antonio/San Antonio Christian) stretching the Bulldog lead to 12-0.

Austin College got in the scoring column in the seventh for their lone run of the game before the game was drawn to an early run-rule conclusion.

Texas Lutheran would steal a program record nine bases in this game with Blake Cappadona, Randy Huerta (New Braunfels/New Braunfels) (4), Alec Sanchez, Zac Nguyen (2), and Payton Dahl contributing to the record. The previous program record for stolen bases in a game was eight - set by the 2021 team also against Austin College. Randy Huerta's four stolen bases is a new individual single-game program record - passing the previous record of three held by Huerta and seven other Bulldogs. Huerta currently ranks in the top ten in Division-III in stolen bases.

Texas Lutheran kept it rolling both at the plate and on the mound in game two, defeating Austin College 11-3. 

Texas Lutheran is off to its best start to SCAC play since joining the conference in 2014 moving to 11-1 to start the conference slate.

JT Taylor got the start for the Bulldogs - throwing 5.1 innings, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks. He struck out five Austin College hitters on the way to his second win of the season. Brendan Beard (New Waverly/Coldspring-Oakhurst) was credited with the save - working 3.2 innings in relief - striking out five batters. Beard was around the plate all night, throwing 75 percent of his pitches for strikes.

Three TLU hitters posted multi-hit games led by a four-for-four effort from Holden Philippus. Randy Huerta and Alec Sanchez both recorded two-hit contests.

Huerta would get the scoring started in the third inning with an infield RBI single. Joe Jimenez would help the Bulldogs cross another in the inning before Huerta would cap the inning by scoring on a wild pitch to give the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead.

The Bulldogs added on in the fourth and fifth as Alec Sanchez would score on a balk in the fourth and Holden Philippus would steal home in the fifth to push the lead to 5-0.

After a three-run sixth inning from the 'Roos, the Bulldogs offense sprung back with six runs of their own in the top of the seventh to put the game away. The sixth inning was capped off by a two-RBI single from Wade Tittle (Caldwell/Caldwell).

Beard would hold the 'Roos scoreless for the final three innings to seal the win.

The Bulldogs would match their stolen base record that was set in the previous game in game two - once again stealing nine bases. The record was matched by Holden Philippus (3), Randy Huerta (2), Joe Jimenez, Alec Sanchez (2), and Payton Dahl.

Texas Lutheran is back at Katt-Isbel Field next weekend as they continue conference play against the University of Dallas Crusaders, April 15-16. The three-game series begins with a Friday doubleheader with first pitch scheduled for 12 PM and 3:30 PM. All streaming and live stats links can be found on tlubulldogs.com.

For more information on Texas Lutheran baseball and all TLU athletics, you can find updates on tlubulldogs.com and all official TLU social media channels (@tluathletics and @TLU_Baseball on Twitter, @tlubulldogs on Instagram and Facebook, and @tlu_athletics on TikTok).