Three homer to give Jags win in series finale

PINEVILLE, La. – The (RV) UHV baseball team got its bats going on Saturday.

Three different Jaguars homered at Billy Allgood Field as they took the final game of their series against Louisiana Christian 7-2.

Juan Martin opened the barrage of home runs in the second inning with a solo shot to center field and his fifth of the year. Hal Perez capped a five-run seventh inning with a two-run homer to left, his seventh of the season which ties Kaden Fikac for the team lead this season, and gave UHV (31-13, 18-9 RRAC) a 6-2 lead at the time. Levi Whitlock hit his second homer of the year when he gave the Jaguars an insurance run in the eighth.

Hayden Leopold gave UHV the lead in the seventh with his two-run single. The Columbus native followed the lead of Jean Michael Gonzalez, who opened the five-run inning with an RBI double to score Jeron Petterson.

Leopold was 1-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs and a pair of walks. Perez was the lone other Jaguar with multiple RBIs.

Julian Garcia, the reigning Red River Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week, earned his team-leading ninth win of the season after allowing two runs – one of which was earned – on four hits and three walks while striking out seven over seven innings of work.

Drew Bradbury and Jacob Baker worked to throw hitless eighth and ninth innings.

Baker shut the door on the Wildcats (26-16, 16-11 RRAC) by striking out the side for a perfect final frame.

With the win, the Jaguars maintained their spot in second place in the conference standings, holding a 1.5-game lead over LSU Alexandria, and have still not been swept in any of their 12 series this season.

UHV returns home to conclude the regular season with a three-game series against LSU Alexandria and Free Ticket Weekend presented by Shaw Realty. Friday will have a 6:30 p.m. first pitch with Senior Day on Saturday at 12 p.m. (doubleheader).