By Cade Haak
ABILENE, TX (June 27th, 2024) – The Texarkana Rhinos were able to find the win column in game three against the first-place Abilene Flying Bison as they strung together nine runs to do so.
Neither team was able to score for the first two innings of the ball game, but the visiting Texarkana Rhinos took the lead with two runs in the top of the third and held onto the lead from that point until the game’s conclusion. The first run was scored by Christian Rosales, who was walked, and then was driven in by Gabriel Natividad, who caught a pitch on the inside of the plate to pull into a gap in left field for a double. Next, it was Natividad crossing home plate for the Rhinos as Rylan Evans hit the ball into shallow center for a single and an RBI.
While already having the lead, the Rhinos continued to build towards the win by scoring three more runs in the top of the fourth inning. Jackson Glymph got on base with a single and then immediately stole second before being moved to third on a ground ball to the second baseman. So, with two outs, Glymph was able to take advantage of a passed ball that spun its way behind Abilene catcher Jacob Lang. With two outs, the Rhinos lineup turned over as the top of the order came back to the plate. Rosales kept the rally going with a single, then was moved to third base on a double to left field by Gabriel Natividad, his second of the game. The rally was finished off by Rylan Evans, who got the final hit of the inning with a single into center field that was well enough placed to score both of his teammates for two RBIs.
In the bottom of the fourth, Abilene made their first true push of the game as they scored four runs and cut the Rhinos lead down to just a single run. These four runs all came on a single swing from Jack Cue, who hammered a home run for a grand slam.
The fifth inning then followed with more action from both sides when Texarkana started it off as Ian Guanzon walked, then worked all the way around the bases on wild pitches before eventually scoring on a passed ball. In the home half of the fifth, Abilene then matched Texarkana’s efforts with a single run of their own.
With the score set at 6-5 in the visiting Rhinos favor, the game’s offense slowed to a halt for the proceeding two innings. Following the two quiet innings, the eighth inning’s action was launched in its top half by Texarkana. Yuto Mimura scored as he was driven in by a single into right field by Christian Rosales. Jackson Glymph also took advantage of the situation, scoring on an error on the throw by Abilene’s right fielder. Gabriel Natividad then showed off as he drilled his third double and fourth hit of the game over the head of the centerfielder to allow the Rhinos ninth run of the game to score. In the bottom of the eighth, the Rhinos were able to hold off the comeback attempt by the Flying Bison, whose two runs were not enough to get them back into the ball game.
The ninth inning was then scoreless for both sides, so the score ended at 9-7 with the Rhinos on top. Chance Reed took his first win of the season for Texarkana and ended his night with 6.1 innings pitched, 8 hits, and 5 runs allowed. Mason Sellers also got his first save of the season when he came in in the seventh inning as a late reliever and held on to the Rhinos lead from that point on.
