In their first ever game against the new Texas Collegiate League’s Abilene Flying Bison, the Rougarou just had to be patient.
But Rougarou center fielder Ty Simonelli wasn’t. With one out and bases loaded after three straight walks in the bottom of the ninth inning of a 5-5 ballgame, Simonelli fouled off one pitch then sent a single into right field to score Jesse Lord and give the Rougarou a 6-5 win.
Then Simonelli had to outrun his teammates, who chased him into the outfield for a while.
It was a raucous celebration for a team coming off a tough road trip to Sherman, Texas, where the Rougarou lost a pair to the Shadowcats, other new team in the league.
Baton Rouge and the Bison matched eight hits apiece. Heading into the final frame, the Rougarou led 5-4, but the Bison scored one to tie.
With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Lord, Micha Landry and Josh Lim all walked to load the bases for Simonelli. He was one of three Rougarou players to get two hits. He had a first-inning triple and scored the first run of the game on a grounder by Jacob Keys. Trip Dobson singled in the third, then doubled and scored a run in the sixth; Dylan Champagne had two singles and drove in a run in the third.
The Rougarou will face the Flying Bison again Friday night at 7 p.m. at Pete Goldsby Field.