Bombers can't sweep DH as Generals use small ball for big victory (2024)

The Brazos Valley Bombers had a pair of stellar pitching performances, but only one led to victory as the league-leading Victoria Generals used a small-ball approach to earn a split in their Texas Collegiate League doubleheader Tuesday night at Edible Field.

Former A&M Consolidated standout Jack Hamilton pitched a complete game in the first of two seven-inning games. The right-hander gave up a run in the first inning but was in control the rest of the way as the Bombers won 4-1. Hamilton allowed seven hits, striking out four and walking three.

Mark Lopez Jr., a teammate of Hamilton’s at Houston Christian, was even more impressive in the second game as he allowed only two hits in seven innings, striking out six and walking two. He allowed only one run, but that’s also all the Bombers could score as the game went to extra innings. The Generals grabbed a 4-2 victory in eight innings, leaning on four straight bunts.

A throwing error by the Bombers catcher on the first bunt left runners on the corners. The Generals scored a run on their second bunt with the Bombers unsuccessfully trying to tag the runner at the plate. The third bunt, one for a sacrifice, moved the runners into scoring position. Victoria on the fourth bunt scored a run to make it 3-1 and when the Bombers threw the ball away trying to get the runner out, the trail runner also scored to make it 4-1.

The Generals (11-6) won the game with only two hits, one of them an infield hit to lead off the fourth. Victoria’s Travis Bragg followed with a double. Lopez bounced back to retire the next three batters, but a wild pitch during the first of two straight strikeouts scored the tying run.

“Both Hamilton and Lopez today were unhittable, really,” Bombers manager Brian Nelson said.

Hamilton’s outing was impressive because he was the losing pitcher in a 12-4 loss to the Generals on June 11. He lasted only 1 2/3 innings, allowing five hits with two strikeouts, four walks and a hit batter. He gave up seven runs, but only two were earned.

“To have him come out and really bounce just back was awesome,” Nelson said. “The first couple of innings, he gave up some soft contact hits that turned into a run and then after that it was lights out for him.”

Lopez kept frustrating the General hitters. He retired the side in order four times.

“The key for both of those guys was being in the zone,” Nelson said. “Those guys are consistently throwing strikes. They were ahead in the count. They were able to mix [pitches] and throw secondary [pitches] in the zone for strikes as huge and their tempo was good. They gave us absolutely gems and gave us a chance to win.”

The Bombers’ offense made Hamilton the winner with a three-run fourth inning.

Drew Collins had a two-run double to break a 1-1 tie and Tristan Russell followed with an RBI single. Nathan Hodge’s one-out single got things rolling and Zach Daigre added a two-out single.

The Bombers scored in the first inning of the nightcap, cashing in on a leadoff single by Drew Collins. He scored on a base hit by Ty Hodge as it appeared the Victoria shortstop had a tough time seeing the line drive in the sun.

The Bombers wasted a golden opportunity in the second. Cameron Henson had a leadoff single and Daigre followed with a double, but Henson was thrown out after rounding third too far. The Bombers loaded the bases with a hit batter and walk, but Victoria’s Will Johnson retired the next two batters. The UT-Tyler redshirt freshmen went 5 1/3 innings for the second straight time against the Bombers. He was the loser in a 6-4 loss on June 12, allowing two runs and only three hits.

Victoria’s Sam Simmons pitched 2 2/3 stellar innings of relief for the victory. The right-hander struck out four and walked one.

“[The Generals] play good disciplined baseball,” Nelson said. “That game could have gone either way. We had some breaks early that we just didn’t catch. It was tough, tight ballgame.”

The Bombers (8-8) had a chance to move within a game of the leaders if they had swept the doubleheader that came about because of Wednesday’s forecast for rain. It was a pretty night for baseball with a slight breeze, but the Bombers got a little hot under the collar in the second game with a couple players ejected as it seemed all close calls went against them.

“We’re going to have to figure out how to win one of these close extra-inning ballgames at some point,” Nelson said. “I think I gotta figure out a new strategy with these things starting with a man on second, because I’m 0-3 for the season.”