By Cade Haak
TEXARKANA, Texas (July 13, 2024) – The series finale between the Rhinos and the TimberHogs started out competitively, but the Rhinos four-run bottom of the fourth inning was the driving force leading to their 6-5 win.
The Rhinos starter Zachary Andrews was the leader for the team as he pitched 5.0 innings, allowed four runs and three runs, none of which were earned runs, and had nine strikeouts total on the way to his first win. Eli Selby and KJ Battles Jr. then came in to pitch one inning each before Rylan Evans pitched the eighth and ninth innings and secured his first save of the season.
The first run for the Rhinos was scored due to pitching struggles by the TimberHogs in the first inning. Sloan Laird was credited with the RBI as he walked with the bases loaded to score the first run.
The Timberhogs took the lead in the top of the third by scoring two unearned runs on an error by the Rhinos shortstop. The Rhinos then bounced back and tied the game in the bottom of the inning. Rylan Evans started off the inning with a bat-splintering single over the shortstop, then advanced to third on a double into left-center field from Neil Jansen that carried into the gap. Sloan Laird then chopped a ground ball down the first base line, and Rylan Evans was able to beat out the throw to home plate to score the Rhinos second run.
The TimberHogs took their second lead of the game in the fourth inning when they scored one run, but the lead was short-lived as the Rhinos scored four runs in the next half inning to put their run total at six and give them a lead they held onto for the rest of the game. The first to score was Ian Guanzon, who drew a walk and then was driven in by an RBI single into shallow center. Following this, the bases were loaded with pitching struggles before Jackson Glymph stepped up to the dish. Glymph skyrocketed a ball that carried to the base of the wall in left field and cleared the bases as he made his way to second for a stand-up three-RBI double to give Texarkana the lead that they held onto for the rest of the game.