By Lori Lyons, Rougarou Writer
If only Landrey Wilkerson could have had one more at-bat…
The outfielder from the University of Louisiana Lafayette had all three of the Baton Rouge Rougarou’s hits Tuesday night, including a 2-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to tie the game at 3-3 and send it into extra innings. But he never got a chance in the 10th and two runners were left stranded, letting the Brazos Valley Bombers take a 5-4 win in the first game of a three-game Texas Collegiate League playoff series and the Rougarou’s final home game of the season.
The Rougarou trailed 3-1 in the bottom of the ninth inning with only two hits — a pair of singles by Wilkerson – in the scorebook. In fact, the team had gone a full five innings without a hit and scored their only run in the sixth thanks to three walks and a well-timed passed ball.
But with the Rougarou down to their final out in the ninth, outfielder Wilkerson came through with a 2-run home run – his first of the season — to tie the game at 3-3 and send it to extra innings.
The Bombers quickly regained the lead in the top of the 10th. With Christian Smith on second under International Tiebreaker Rules, Casey Sunseri was intentionally walked with one out. Smith stole third then Simon Larranga singled to score both runners and give Brazos Valley a 5-3 lead.
In the bottom of the frame, T.J. Grines was put on second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. He scored on a sacrifice fly by Josh Shelly. With two out, Payton Cooper walked, then Davis Meche reached on an error by the second baseman. But both runners were left stranded.
Brazos Valley finished with eight hits off of four Rougarou pitchers. Reid Godchaux got the start, giving up one run on two hits with one walk and one strikeout in four innings. Will Riley, who pitched the final two innings, took the loss.
The Bombers’ pitchers were stingy with hits, but walked 10 and struck out 12.
The two teams will travel to Bryan, Texas for Wednesday night’s Game Two and, if necessary, Game Three. The winner of the series will advance to the championship game Saturday night against the winner between the Seguin River Monsters and the Victoria Generals.