By Nathan Heuer

Defeating a team in four consecutive games in a two-day span is no easy task for an NJCAA baseball program.

Amarillo College accomplished the feat once since the reboot of athletics entering their four-game series this past Sunday and Monday against Lamar Community College.

The Badgers added a second four-game sweep to their program resume on Monday at Hodgetown, rallying from a 5-3 deficit in game four to secure an 11-8 win.

“It’s very difficult to beat a team four times in a row, but you guys played well,” Amarillo head coach Brandon Rains told his team after the series-clinching victory. “It got challenging at times, but you kept playing and found a way. I’m very proud of you guys.”

The Badgers improved their overall record to 9-3 and win streak to seven games by the time the final out was recorded on Monday.

Rains noted his thoughts the Badgers hot start to the season and how it can be sustained moving forward.

“We just worry about what we’re doing each inning. We’re not worried about the record. Not looking forward to the future. It’s about winning that inning, pitching and playing defense each inning and have good quality at bats up and down the lineup,” he explained. “The record will take care of itself. We’re just one game at a time.”

On the field, the Badgers recipe for success against Lamar was power and punchouts.

The Badgers hit seven homers, three off the bat of returning all-conference outfielder Sydney Ward, and tallied 45 strikeouts on the mound.

Game one starter Gabe Watson recorded the second-highest strikeout total (11) since the reboot of athletics on Sunday to pick up his first win. Bret Deegan and Randall graduate Duncan Bowles followed in games 2 and 3 with 10 strikeouts and 8 K’s respectively to improve their record as starting pitchers to 3-0.

“We pitched really well at times. Most of our pitchers were in command of all their pitches. They filled up the strike zone and had a ton of strikeouts, swing and misses,” Rains said. “Our first four hitters are really talented and can leave the ballpark at any time. Really you have several guys in that lineup that can leave the ballpark at any time. They have a good, consistent professional-based approach.”

Game 1

Purdue University baseball commit, Watson, and freshman Noah Turner struck out 14 of the 30 batters they faced in Amarillo College’s 6-1 victory on Sunday to open the series.

The duo allowed no earned runs and two hits in the seven-inning contest.

Chris Benavidez’s RBI single in the bottom of the third frame gave the Badgers a 1-0 advantage – a lead they maintained the rest of the game.

The redshirt freshman outfielder from Bryan added his third home run of the season via a two-run blast over the left field wall in the sixth.

Benavidez and Ward recorded a team-best two hits apiece.

Game 2

Ward hit two home runs – his third multi-homer game of his career – and Jan Avila added his first deep ball of the season during the Badgers 11-1 run-rule victory.

The Badgers plated five runs in the first two frames of the seven-inning contest and sealed the victory by way of a four-run fourth.

Avila and Ward paced AC at the plate with two hits and four RBIs each.

The offensive output by Avila, a Rutgers University baseball signee, were season-best marks by the Puerto Rican shortstop.

Deegan went five innings on the mound for the first time this season and recorded a season-best 10 strikeouts while allowing one earned run, two walks, and two hits.

The Spring native has a 1.167 ERA through three starts and 12 innings pitched.

Game 3

Amarillo College secured their third comeback win of the season behind a 13-hit performance by the Badger bats and another dominant outing on the mound by Bowles.

AC faced a 2-0 deficit entering the bottom of the second frame before taking the lead for the remainder of the contest in the bottom of the inning.

The Badgers plated four runs via four singles – Luis Gonzalez, Gerardo Prado, Ward, Benavidez – and a sacrifice fly by Payton Bush.

Grant Watkins recorded his third homer of the season on a solo shot in the fifth inning and Ward added his third homer of the series via a three-run long ball in the sixth.

Gonzalez, the Badgers starting catcher, had a career-high three hits.

Bowles allowed five hits, one earned run, walk one, and struck out eight batters in five innings. Colton Klemke closed the contest for the Badgers. The Lubbock Cooper High School alum allowed one hit and no walks.

Game 4

Staring at a 5-3 in the top of sixth inning, freshman pitcher Carter Beard was placed on the mound with one out and the momentum swinging in the favor of the Lopes.

The Abilene Wylie High School product ensued with two critical strikeouts, leaving two Lamar baserunners stranded.

Benavidez, Ward, and David De Hoyos capitalized in the bottom of the frame.

Benavidez led with a two-out triple, followed by a Ward double. De Hoyos brought Ward home on a single to tie the game at 5-5.

After Beard forced two fly outs and a pop out in the seventh, AC plated five runs in the bottom half of the inning – highlighted by David De Hoyos’ three-run homer – to secure a 10-5 lead.

The Badgers went on to win the game 11-8 in nine innings.

Lawson Peel got the start and recorded a career-high four strikeouts on a pitch count limit in three innings.

Carter Beard claimed the first win of his career on the hill.