Trent Bower was dealing.
The Badgers bats were on fire.
And Bret Deegan earned career win No. 10 on hill over the weekend at Hodgetown.
Amarillo College finished their third week of the season with a 2-1 series victory over Dallas College Richland for their final homestand of February.
Bower tossed four hitless innings to begin Sunday’s rubber match. The freshman from Colleyville, Texas finished his five-inning stint against the Thunderducks with six strikeouts, one hit allowed, and zero earned runs during AC’s 12-2 victory.
Eight Badger batters combined for 16 hits and 12 RBIs before the six-inning contest concluded due to run rule (10 runs after five frames). Gerardo Prado, Jaxson Lindsey, and Jacob Sullens tallied three hits apiece in the series-deciding contest.
On Saturday, returning all-conference pitcher, Deegan, improved his program-best win mark to 10 as AC claimed a 15-7 game two win. The Klein Oak High School product struck out four batters, allowed five hits and zero earned runs in four frames.
Fellow sophomore and returning all-conference pitcher Badger Noah Turner put an exclamation point on the victory with a nine-pitch inning. In his lone frame on the mound, Turner allowed no hits and struck out one batter.
During AC’s 15-7 game two victory, Prado became the first Badger to hit a pair of triples in a single game. The University of Oklahoma baseball signee finished the contest with five RBIs, three hits, four runs, and a walk.
David De Hoyos and Zyon Hamilton improved Amarillo College’s home run mark to 19 with one long ball apiece to conclude play on Saturday. The Badgers 19 homers rank fifth nationally at the NJCAA Division I level entering Monday.
The Thunderducks opened the series with a 4-3 victory despite successful showings by the Badger pitching staff. Game one starter Logan Tibbett had five strikeouts and three earned runs over four innings. Freshman Ja’Marcus Smith was spotless in the next 2.2 innings as a middle reliever, allowing no earned runs or walks.
Mason Runnels allowed one hit and finished the seventh inning with a strikeout.
Richland took the lead in the seventh inning via a Badger defensive error.
AC’s seven hits during the series opener against Richland tied for the team’s third-lowest total of the season.
Amarillo College will take a 4-8 record into their first road trip of the season this upcoming weekend against 11th ranked Weatherford College (9-1). The four-game series has been moved to Saturday and Sunday due to weather conditions.
Saturday’s doubleheader has a 1 p.m. start time, followed by a noon start time for Sunday’s doubleheader.
