By Lori Lyons, Rougarou Writer
The Brazos Valley Bombers showed the Baton Rouge Rougarou how it took the No. 1 spot in the Texas Collegiate League Saturday night, on the way to taking a 5-1 win at Pete Goldsby Field.
Brazos Valley (16-8) knocked 10 hits and held the Rougarou to one run on just five hits and struck out eight. Josh Shelly was the only Rougarou player with more than one hit, finishing 2-for-4 on the night. Mozell Little III hit a double and scored the team’s only run on a hit by Derrald Moore Jr. in the bottom of the first inning. That would be the last Rougarou hit until the bottom of the ninth when Will Safford’s popup dropped between the Brazos Valley pitcher and catcher for an infield single. The Bombers also robbed several Rougarou players of some potential hits with several stellar defensive plays.
Payton Cooper got the start for Baton Rouge. He threw five innings, giving up five runs on seven hits, walking two and striking out two. Jack Hill gave up three hits but no runs in two innings of work. He struck out two. Ethan Brister and Collier Barham closed it out with a scoreless, hitless inning for each.
The Rougarou (11-13) have lost eight of their last nine games and five in a row. The team returns to Texas Sunday to play at Seguin at 7 p.m. They travel to Victoria to take on the Generals Monday at 7 p.m. They are off on Tuesday, July 4.
Baton Rouge will host the Texas College League All-Star Game Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Alex Box Stadium.