Jen Hits for Cycle as TLU Baseball Offense Explodes to Beat Dallas 24-12

IRVING, Texas -- Hammering two home runs and using five multi-RBI performances across the lineup, the Texas Lutheran baseball team (13-6, 7-4 SCAC) clinched their weekend series with an offensive outpouring to defeat Dallas (4-13, 4-10 SCAC), 24-12, in eight innings. Texas Lutheran hammered out 24 runs on 24 hits and have scored 10+ runs in six of their wins this season.

The game was back-and-forth from the second inning on as the two teams traded putting up crooked numbers on the scoreboard Saturday evening into Sunday afternoon. After Dallas erased a 12-6 lead to tie the game 12-12 going into the sixth, the Bulldogs would score 12 unanswered runs to win the game in eight innings.

Freshman Cooper Jen (Kyle/Hays) had a huge day at the plate, going 4-for-6 to hit for the cycle with seven RBI, including a three-run home run, and five runs scored. The seven RBI in a game are the most in a single-game since Tyler Post drove in eight runs in 2023. Brayden Sprencel (Robstown/Calallen) was also outstanding offensively, finishing 4-for-6 with a double, four RBI, and three runs scored. Kash Durkin (Liberty Hill/Liberty Hill) did his part as well, going 2-for-4 with a double, his SCAC-leading eighth home run, four RBI, a walk, and three runs scored. Mason Goudeau (Liberty/Liberty) finished 3-for-6 with three RBI and a run scored.

Nolan McInvale (Poth/Poth) started and pitched four innings, allowing eight runs on eight hits. Parker Schutte (Arlington/Lamar) pitched three innings in relief, allowing four runs on six hits, picking up the first win of his collegiate career.

After a leadoff walk to Aiden Spires (Fort Worth/Arlington Heights) and a double by Chance Greene (Round Rock/Stony Point) to start the second inning, Cooper Jen got the scoring started with an RBI single. A sacrifice fly from Mason Goudeau drove in the Bulldogs second run of the game before Kash Durkin cleared the bases with a two-run homer to give the Bulldogs an early 4-0 lead.

A three-run homer from Cooper Jen in the third inning gave the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead. Dallas battled back in the bottom of the inning, scoring six runs of their own.

Texas Lutheran came right back with five runs of their own in the fourth to take an 12-6 lead. Adam Peavy (Houston/Memorial) scored on a Dallas error to start the Bulldogs scoring in the inning. Back-to-back hit by pitches loaded the bases to set up a bases clearing triple from Cooper Jen. Jen would score the final run of the inning, an unearned run on the Crusaders second error of the inning.

The Crusaders put together another big inning in the fifth scoring six runs to tie the game at twelve.

TLU came right back and scored five more in the top of the sixth. Following a leadoff double from Jen that completed the cyle, Mason Goudeau hit an RBI single to drive him in. Kash Durkin followed with a two-RBI double before Brayden Sprencel drove him in with an RBI single. Drew Burnett (Seguin/Seguin) drove in the final run of the inning with an RBI groundout.

The Bulldogs got another run across in the seventh as Chase Bourgeois (League City/Clear Falls) scored on a wild pitch for the final run on Saturday.

Texas Lutheran started to really separate when the game resumed Sunday afternoon with a six-run outburst in the eighth to put the game in mercy rule territory. Tyler Helpenstill (Pearland/Lutheran South), Caleb Small (Round Rock/Gateway College Preparatory), and Jake Gilbreath (Glen Rose/Glen Rose) started the inning with three straight singles to load the bases. Two runs would score following a Dallas error that allowed Jen to reach on a fielder's choice. A two-RBI single from Bourgeois extended the lead to 22-12. Brayden Sprencel capped off the inning with a two-RBI single, bringing the game to its final score of 24-12.

Diego Vinton (Richmond/George Ranch) finished off the run-rule win by pitching a scoreless eighth inning.

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 X (Twitter), @tlubulldogs on Facebook, and @tlu_athletics on Instagram and TikTok).