By Lori Lyons, Rougarou Writer
The Baton Rouge Rougarou wrapped up their tour of Texas Monday night, taking a 4-2 win over the Seguin River Monsters at Smokey Joe Williams Stadium. The team was 3-1 on this road trip and improved to 8-4 overall, putting them in first place in the Texas Collegiate League by .5.
Monday’s game had a little extra drama as starting pitcher Will Tarpley took a no-hitter into the seventh inning. He finally gave up a one-out, 2-run single to Xavier Arias in the seventh after walking two batters. Those were the only runs the River Monsters would score and that was Tarpley’s only hit allowed. He walked three and struck out four.
Cowan Alfonso pitched 1 1/3 innings, allowing two more hits, no runs and striking out three. Connor Spenser closed, allowing one hit and striking out two.
“Will Tarpley was very efficient pounding the zone,” Rougarou coach Jeff “Rooster” Southall said. “He turned it over to Alphonso, who had the remainder of the seventh and eighth. Spencer closed the ninth up 4-2 and was stellar other than an infield hit. Offensively, we mustered just enough to win and let the pitching do the rest.”
The Rougarou finished with eight hits off of five Seguin pitchers and once again put the pressure on early. They scored a run in the second and another in the third, then two in the sixth while Tarpley held the River Monsters at bay. In the second inning, Derrald Moore Jr. walked, stole second and scored on a single by Mozell Little III. Trevor Durr led off the third with a double, went to third on a ground-out by T.J. Grines and scored on Will Safford’s single.
In the sixth, Brady McGee walked and stole second. Sully Stringer walked, then Austin O’Malley hit a double to drive in both runs.
The Rougarou return to Pete Goldsby Field on Tuesday to play the Victoria Generals before taking the next two days off for a much-needed rest. Southall hopes the Rougarou’s fans come out to support the road warriors, who will return to Baton Rouge in the wee hours of Tuesday morning.
“I’m very proud that the boys embraced the grind and fought for most of every inning,” he said. “Any time you win three of four on the road in four different cities, it’s a big deal. I’m very proud of the guys for the efforts all week.”