Bryan, TX - Ryan Benitez was fantastic in seven innings on the mound for the Generals, but they lost a nail-biter, 4-3, to the Brazos Valley Bombers, notching up the championship series at one game apiece.
The Bombers struck first, as Tucker Pennell drove in Horacio Correa on a single in the bottom of the first inning. Correa led off the inning with a single and moved to second on Grady Caldwell's walk before scoring.
The Generals answered right back in the top of the second. Cedric Vallieres wasted no time, as he doubled on the first pitch he saw. David Paiz moved him to third on a single, and he crossed the plate on Tanner Hill's groundout to second.
Correa scored his second run of the night in the fifth on an error.
He reached on a one-out walk then reached second on Blake Kopetsky's single before scoring the go-ahead run on the error. Matthew Burks drilled his league-leading eighth home run of the season to tie the game back up at two with one out in the top of the sixth.
A.J. Minter took over on the mound for Heston VanFleet and the Bombers to open the seventh inning. In the seventh, C.J. Pickering drove in Hill on a single, following Hill's double and move to third on a passed ball, putting the Generals up, 3-2.
After seven innings tossed by Benitez, Chris Jones came in for the Generals in the bottom of the eighth and would pitch a perfect inning not allowing any base runners. Benitez struck out five batters on the night, including his first four outs.
Jeff Chesnut would enter the game in the 9th and would give up a lead off walk to Hagler. Hagler would steal second and Hilton would fly out for the first out of the inning. Norris would ground out for the second out advancing the tying run to third. Chesnut would walk Moore and Correra would drive in Hagler and Moore to give the Bombers the win to even up the series at a game each.
The Texas Collegiate League Championship will be decided tomorrow night at 7:05 in Bryan. Tune in on the City Mortgage Group Broadcast Network, and remember....its our time!
