Jags fall in pitcher's duel to TAMUT, face elimination game on Saturday

By Karolyn Hasler, special to UHV Athletics

STERLINGTON, La. – A pitcher's duel in the second round of the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament on Friday saw the (RV) UHV baseball team face a tough defeat. 

The Jaguars fell 3-0 with all of the offense coming in one inning against Texas A&M-Texarkana.

The Eagles (24-24) found three runs in the top of the fourth inning with Dakota Leopold doubling to score one before Hunter Reid homered to center field to bring in two more. 

Outside of the three-run inning, junior right-hander Mason Longoria did his best to keep UHV in the game, throwing a complete game in which he struck out 10 and allowed the three runs on eight hits.

"Mason pitched his tail off tonight, and maybe (we want) two pitches back you know the whole night," said head coach Jonathan Stavinoha. "To give us nine, and keep our pitchers fresh and everything to fight this battle of coming back and playing win-or-go-home baseball tomorrow."

The Jaguars (33-16) could not find their groove at the plate as Juan Martin was the lone player to go 2-for-3 at the dish as they scattered five hits.

With the loss, UHV will face LSU Alexandria at 1 p.m. on Saturday in an elimination game and another elimination game, should the Jaguars win, at 5 p.m. against either No. 4 LSU Shreveport, Southwest or Our Lady of the Lake. 

"We're ready for the challenge," Stavinhoa said of the elimination game. "I told the guys, true colors come out when your back's against the wall and we're all going to climb this ladder together. I have 100% confidence that at the end of the day we're going to be in the championship fighting for another repeat championship."