To kick off March the Taylor baseball team took Tuesday night’s game in dramatic fashion, with a 4-3 walk-off victory over Copperas Cove.
On a dropped third strike, Taylor designated hitter Aiden Aguero raced towards first base. A wild throw by the Bulldawgs catcher allowed the winning run to come across for the Ducks.
Dominick Hartman was the Ducks first baserunner of the night to get things started in the first inning drawing a base on balls. Hartman would advance to second base via a Nick Treuter sacrifice bunt. Cohen Tyree would then reach base via a walk, while Hartman would take third base on a wild pitch. On a 1-0 count, Aguero would be hit by a pitch to load the bases for the Ducks.
Jackson Schroeder then stepped up and on an 0-2 count, doubled to center field to drive home Hartman and Tyree to give the Ducks the early 2-0 lead. Aguero would end up at third base but advance no further as the Ducks’ inning came to a close.
Copperas Cove would tie things up in their half of the fourth inning. The Bulldawgs would then grab the 3-2 lead later in the game in the top of the seventh inning.
With their backs against the wall, the Ducks came to bat in the bottom of the seventh inning. Devin Valdez stepped up first going down quickly on three pitches. Jake Jansky then reached first base on four straight out-of-the-zone pitches. Hartman then went down on strikes as the tension mounted for the Ducks.
In a battle at the plate, Jacob Turner would reach first base by way of a walk. After stealing second and third base during Turner’s at-bat, Jansky stole home and to knot the game at 3-3.
After Taylor secured at least one more inning of play, Tyree walked for the second time in the game and would move Turner to second base. Pinch hitter Chriss Perez then reach base by catcher interference to load the bases full of Ducks for Aguero.
With a full count, Aguero watched strike three cross the plate. The catcher dropped the ball allowing Aguero to make a mad dash for first base where he was safe as the catchers throw went off target to allow the winning run for the Ducks.
Taylor was in action at the Cameron tournament this weekend. On Thursday, March 3 Taylor picked up a come from behind win against West, 9-3, and dropped a contest to Bridge City, 4-3, to move to 3-4 on the season. Look for the wrap-up of the Cameron tournament in Wednesday’s e-edition.
