TEXARKANA, TX (June 2nd, 2024) – The third game of the Rhinos home opening series against the Fort Smith Marshals was canceled in the top of the third inning due to a strong storm system.
With Sabala on the mound, the Rhinos kicked off the game hot by holding Fort Smith scoreless in the top of the first before scoring four runs of their own.
The first of the four runs came from a solo shot to left-center field from Gabriel Natividad, the Rhinos lead-off man. Following the long shot by Natividad, Ian Gaunzon was hit by a pitch, and Rylan Evans was walked onto the base path. Jackson Glymph put a ball in play down the third baseline, but the throw got away from third baseman Matthew Schilling to allow Evans to score the Rhinos second run. Texarkana then added their third run of the game due to struggles on the mound for Fort Smith’s starter Mason Wiggins, before Sota Suzuki was able to hit a sacrifice fly into left field to bring in the inning’s fourth and final run.
The top of the second saw the Marshals score two runs of their own due to an error in left field by Jackson Glymph that brought in the first and a hit by Harrison Adams lofted over the head of the Rhinos first baseman that found the grass in shallow right.
In the bottom of the second inning, the Rhinos continued their charge forward against a faltering Fort Smith defense, with Wiggins on the mound. Texarkana added four runs in the bottom of the second, with the highlight being a hard-hit single up the middle by Sebastian Huerta that resulted in two RBIs. The final change of the game came when Fort Smith decided to bring in relief pitcher Ethan Rivera to replace Mason Wiggins just before the game was canceled due to the incoming storm. At the time of the cancellation, the Rhinos led Fort Smith eight runs to two.
Due to league rules, the game between Texarkana and Fort Smith will be rescheduled for a later date. The Rhinos next matchup will be played at George Dobson Field on June 4th and 5th against the visiting Joplin Outlaws, who currently sit second in the league with a 6-3 record.
