BRYAN, Texas — The battle to see who would take sole possession of the top spot in the Texas Collegiate League paid off for the Bombers as Brazos Valley notched the team’s first shutout of the season against the Victoria Generals.
Henry Bird delivered an excellent pitching performance for Brazos Valley. Bird struck out five batters in five scoreless innings and only allowed the Generals a single hit before the Bombers sent Cole Sichley to the mound to start the bottom of the sixth. Sichley sent the Generals packing, three up and three down, in his single inning.
Tristan Stivors entered for the Bombers in the seventh inning. After a four-pitch walk to start the seventh, Stivors dialed it in and struck out five batters in a three-inning span to maintain the stout defensive effort and secure the shutout. Stivors allowed no hits in the final three innings of the contest.
The Bombers offense struck first again, the fourth game in a row the Bombers have been the first on the board.
In the second inning, Hunter Coleman led the scoring off on a Fielder’s Choice that allowed him to cross the plate. Coleman contributed again in the third with a sacrifice fly that allowed Ridge Rogers to get across and give the Bombers a 2-0 lead early.
After the Bombers 9-2 win over the Twins on Saturday, Manager Brian Nelson explained that “hitting is contagious,” and the Bombers proved that with two more runs delivered in the fourth inning Sunday.
Bryant Shellenbarger made his presence felt in Victoria with a solo home run over the left field wall. A double from Tyler Smith put the Bombers in a good position, one they capitalized on with an RBI single from Rogers.
Patient zero of the Bombers hitting bug, Hunter Coleman, put another home run on the board for the Bombers to score for the fourth consecutive inning. The scoring streak for the Bombers ended in the top of the sixth off a fresh pitching change by the Generals, but the damage had already been done, and the Generals would not rally.
With this win over the Generals, the Bombers take sole control of the top spot in the Texas Collegiate League standings at 12-3. The Generals will have the opportunity to re-tie the lead with the Bombers in Monday night’s game in Victoria.
