Cougars Tripped Up By Apaches

Cougars Tripped Up By Apaches

Game number of seven of the 2021 NJCAA Division III World Series would also be the seventh game between the #10 Cougars and the #3 Tyler Junior College Apaches.  Just before the game it was announced the CBC Head Coach Brian Bauerle was the NJCAA Division III South District Coach of the Year and received the honor on the field.

Eric Martinez led of the top of second inning with a double to right center field, eventually scoring on Kane Mendieta's single to left tieing the score 1-1.   In the top of 3rd Ryan Davenport would get his fifth hit of the world series on a single to right, he would then take second on a fielder's choice by Ruben Sepulveda, steal third and trot home on Martinez's second hit of the game to left field, giving the lead back to the Cougars 2-1.

Martinez would again be the man for the Cougars when hit a towering bomb into the woods well beyond the left field wall, bringing home both JB Trees (hit by pitch) and Davenport who had walked bringing the score closer at 6-5, TJC.  That would be as close as the Cougars would get.

Preston Allen (5-1) took to the mound looking for his third straight win over the TJC, having carded a one-hit shutout and picked up the extra inning win in Tyler to propel the Cougars into the World Series.  The Apaches would use the long ball to the take (1st) tie (3rd) and retake the lead in the bottom of the fourth, chasing Allen who struck out five, but gave up the four long balls.  Eric Elizondo came on to end the Apache slugfest in the fourth, before giving up the fifth TJC homer in the next inning.  From that point Elizondo was flawless retiring Apaches at will.  He did his job and kept the team in the game.

 

The Cougars will now drop to the contenders bracket and will have a short rest before taking on #7 Niagara Community College (NY) at 1:00 pm on Monday in an elimination game.