Jags set records in doubleheader sweep of Texas College

Brady Parker trusts his defense. He just didn't need them on Friday night.

The sophomore left-hander went five innings with all 15 outs he recorded coming via the strikeout, setting a new single-game strikeout record in the Jags' 22-3 win over Texas College in Game 2 on Friday. The previous mark of 14 was set by Ray Maldonado on Feb. 9, 2008 vs. LSU Alexandria.

In total, 20 of the 21 outs recorded by the Jaguars in Game 2 were strikeouts – also breaking the team single-game record set against LSUA in 2008.

The Jaguars (23-9, 11-6) won Game 1 of the series 20-5.

"Today, I didn't want to take these guys lightly," Parker said. "I wanted to throw 100% and just wanted to pitch my best game."

The lone out that didn't come via the strikeout was a fly ball hit to Jeron Petterson in the sixth inning.

Those were two of at least five milestones reached on Friday.

In Game 1, Raul Lopez hit for the cycle within the first four innings. The feat by the senior center-fielder is believed to be the first at UHV.

The El Paso native hit a two-run triple to kick off his 4-for-4 day before following with an RBI double, a two-run home run and an RBI single. He finished the doubleheader 5-for-6 with six RBIs to extend his hitting streak to 18 games.

"My mindset right out of the box is always to go for three or any extra bases," Lopez said. "It just seemed to happen, getting the triple in the first at-bat and getting it out of the way."

Hayden Leopold etched his name atop another career leaderboard at UHV with his 61^st and 62^nd career multi-hit games. The Columbus native finished the doubleheader 4-for-5 with a pair of RBIs.

The Jaguars mashed four home runs and had 12 different players record RBIs Friday against the Steers (0-20, 0-17).

Hal Perez hit his fifth home run of the season, a grand slam during a 13-run fourth inning in Game 2. Juan Martin homered in the third inning to break a 3-3 tie at the time. It was the third homer of the year for the Argentinian.

Daviel Camacho followed Lopez's lead in Game 1 with a 3-run home run in Game 1.

UHV also got first-career RBIs from Jacob Goings and Wyatt Smith during the rout in Game 2.

"We're putting together great AB after great AB," said head coach Jonathan Stavinoha. "It was really good to see Hal come in and hit that grand slam. He's been working through some things with his swing and finally kind of putting it together. Raul hits for the cycle; he was all over it. … At the end of the day, we're 23-9. We're rockin' and rollin'. I can't say enough about this squad."

The Game 1 win also marked the 50^th career win for Stavinoha.

Mason Longoria picked up his fifth win of the season after throwing five innings, allowing four earned runs while striking out 10. It's the third time this season the Victoria St. Joseph product has reached double-figure strikeouts.

Ryan Rodriguez pitched a hitless sixth inning in Game 1 before Wyatt Lambert came on to allow only one hit in his first appearance of the season.

Orsak and Drew Bradbury each had a scoreless inning of work in Game 2 with Bradbury striking out the side to close the game.

"We had four guys come out of the pen and put up four zeroes," Stavinoha said. "In Game 2, they came in and threw 1-2-3. We had 20 of our 21 outs from strikeouts. I can't say enough about the pitching staff today."

The series and Free Ticket Weekend Presented by Crossroads Bank concludes with a 12 p.m. first pitch on Saturday at Riverside Stadium.