Sophomore Xavier Juarez delivered a clutch RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Taylor Ducks a dramatic 4-3 walk-off win over Marble Falls on Thursday, April 17.
Juarez went 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs, including the game-winner.
The Mustangs struck first with an RBI single in the top of the second to take a 1-0 lead, but the Ducks responded in the bottom half with a game-tying RBI double from senior Kaddy Maravilla. Later in the inning, a throwing error allowed Taylor to take a 2-1 lead.
Marble Falls threatened in the third with runners on first and second and two outs, but junior catcher Connor Woods threw out a baserunner attempting to steal third to end the inning.
Freshman pitcher Tayden Talley tossed a 1-2-3 fourth inning as both teams were held scoreless. The Mustangs regained the lead in the fifth, capitalizing on a Taylor error and an RBI single to go up 3-2. The Ducks tied the game again in the bottom half on a sacrifice fly.
The game remained deadlocked until the bottom of the 10th, when Taylor drew a leadoff walk and moved the runner into scoring position on a passed ball. Juarez then stepped up and drove in the winning run with a single to seal the victory.
Talley pitched five innings, allowing three runs and recording one strikeout. Senior Mario Aguero earned the win in relief, tossing five shutout innings and striking out seven.
With the win, Taylor improved to 4-6 in district play and sits fifth in the standings, one game behind Burnet. The Ducks will continue their playoff push when they host Salado on Tuesday, April 22, at 7 p.m. They’ll wrap up the series on the road Friday, April 25, also at 7 p.m.
