JARRELL — The Taylor Ducks varsity baseball team came up just short in a 5-4 extra-inning loss to the Jarrell Cougars on Friday, March 28.
Taylor mounted a late comeback, scoring four runs in the seventh inning to force extras, but Jarrell secured the win in the eighth on a fielding error.
This was the second game of the series, as the Ducks took the first matchup with a dominant 17-1 victory.
The Cougars jumped out to a quick lead, scoring twice in the first inning on an RBI triple and a sacrifice fly. Taylor was retired in order in the second, and Jarrell extended its lead to 3-0 in the third when a run was forced in on a hit-bypitch.
The Ducks struggled to generate offense and remained scoreless until the seventh inning. Jarrell added another run in the fifth on a dropped third strike, making it 4- 0.
Down to their final three outs, the Ducks loaded the bases with one out in the top of the seventh after consecutive singles from junior Connor Woods, senior Trey Stromberg and junior Angel Rodriguez. A walk brought home Taylor’s first run before a second walk plated another.
Senior Xavier Juarez then delivered a two-run single to even the score at 4-4.
The Ducks held Jarrell scoreless in the bottom half, forcing extra
innings. Taylor was unable to push across a run in the top of the eighth, and the Cougars capitalized on a fielding error in the bottom half to walk it off.
Freshman Tayden Talley pitched 4.1 innings and allowed four runs. Mario Aguero provided 3.1 innings of relief, surrendering one run and taking the loss.
With the loss, Taylor fell to 3-8-2 overall and 1-3 in district play. The Ducks looked to bounce back against Burnet on Tuesday, April 1, before hosting the Bulldogs on Friday, April 4, at 7 p.m.
