By Cade Haak
TEXARKANA, TX (June 23rd, 2024) – The Texarkana Rhinos were able to find the win column in game one of the double header after erasing the four-run deficit and winning in walk-off fashion, 9-8. In game two, the Shadowcats fought back as they took the lead in the top of the seventh inning and were able to stave off any attempt to come back from the Rhinos.
The seven-inning first game of the evening was controlled from the mound as both teams’ starting pitchers had extended outings on the bump while battling to find the win for their team. For the Rhinos, it was Christian Rosales who got the starting spot, and for the Shadowcats, it was Tanner Carter. Rosales night ended in the seventh inning after he allowed 2 runs and was pulled out of the game with a final statline of 6.0 innings pitched, 10 hits allowed, and 6 runs, 5 of which were allowed. Tanner Carter was left in the game as he was in pursuit of a complete game victory. Instead, he was still on the mound when the Rhinos scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh to steal away the victory at the last possible second.
The first run of the game was brought in for the Rhinos when Rylan Evans sent a line drive that landed just in play down the left field line for a double that scored Gabriel Natividad. In the top of the third inning, the Shadowcats took hold of their first lead of the game by scoring three runs of their own.
Both teams were then held scoreless in the fourth inning before Texarkana took the lead back in the bottom of the fifth. Matt Beuka hit a double in the gap between left and centerfield to earn himself two RBIs by bringing in Sota Suzuki and Sebastian Huerta. The third run of the inning came when Ian Guanzon hit a single on the ground just past third base, which was enough to score Beuka from second base.
In response to the Rhinos taking the lead, the Shadowcats knotted up the game at four runs apiece. This tie was held going into the top of the seventh inning, which was the last since the game was part of a double header. In the Shadowcats portion of the seventh inning, they scored four runs on five hits.
In the home half of the seventh inning, Texarkana showed resilience as they faced the arm of Tanner Carter, who was looking to end the game with a win. To start the inning, Suzuki and Beuka both walked, and Suzuki was then able to work around the bases to score as the Sherman catcher attempted to throw out Matt Beuka at first, but instead the errant throw caused an error. Matt Beuka then scored on a single from Guanzon, who earned his second RBI of the game. The next run was brought in as Antonio Sabala reached first safely on a fielder’s choice and scored Neil Jansen in the process. Next, Jackson Glymph hit a ground ball on the right side of the field, where the second baseman was able to make the play for an out, but the Rhinos were able to bring across their eighth run to tie the game. Finally, Sota Suzuki made his walk to home plate for his second at-bat of the seventh inning. Suzuki wasted no time; he connected with a pitch that had enough carry to get over Kaleb Castillo’s head at second base and land safely in right field. This single was enough to bring in the game-winning run and ignite celebrations as the Rhinos dugout swarmed Suzuki on the base path to celebrate.
Game two proceeded in a similar manner as the two teams battled back and forth, attempting to swing the game in their favor for its entirety. First, Sherman got out in front by scoring three runs in the second inning, and then they were able to add to their total with a single run in the third inning. Texarkana then bounced back by scoring four runs in the bottom of the third to tie the game up. Gabriel Natividad brought in the first run as he reached first safely due to an error on a throw to first. The wild throw also allowed Matt Beuka to score the Rhinos first run. Rylan Evans then connected with a pitch and sent it back where it came, earning himself a single and an RBI as Antonio Sabala scored. Yuto Mimura matched the effort by getting a similar single himself and also getting an RBI. Finally, Kyle Dekerf, the Rhinos catcher for the second game, found a gap with a ground ball between the first and second basemen to score Texarkana’s fourth run of the game.
With the game all tied, the action continued in the fourth as the Shadowcats scored one run and the Rhinos scored two to steal the lead. The two runs for the Rhinos came on one swing when Jackson Glymph singled down the right field line to score both Natividad and Beuka.
In the sixth, the action kicked off again as Sherman scored two to put the score in their favor at 7-6. In the bottom half of the inning, the Rhinos came back with a run of their own to tie the game up again before the final inning began. It was Jackson Glymph again who was able to get the RBI, this time with the use of a sacrifice fly into right field that tied the game up due to good baserunning by Antonio Sabala.
Ultimately, despite the great efforts from the Rhinos in front of their home crowd, it was Sherman who found a win after scoring two runs in the top of the seventh inning, and then the arm of Sandry Hernandez got three quick outs to end the bottom half of the inning and the game as a whole.
