Thunderducks Sweep Pair on Opening Day

DALLAS – Dallas College Richland's 14^th-ranked baseball team opened the season with a doubleheader sweep of The Complete Showcase Post Grad Sunday, winning 13-10 and 8-4.

In the opener, TCS Post Grad jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning and added two more runs in the third. Richland responded with six runs in the bottom of the third, and tacked on six more in the fourth to take a 12-10 lead. The Thunderducks added an insurance run in the fifth, and Josh Branter worked four innings of scoreless relief, and struck out three to pick up the win on the mound.

Catcher Noah Pena went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs batted in. Left fielder Kelton Phillips homered, walked, drove in three runs, and had two stolen bases. Right fielder Jouseph Gelpi had two doubles and a stolen base in four plate appearances. Second baseman Connor Haelzle was 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and a stolen base. First baseman Trace Chamblee homered, and drove in a pair. Center fielder Nick Hockemeyer singled, and drove in two runs. Designated hitter Trey Smith was 1-for-3 with a stolen base.

The Thunderducks outhit TCS Post Grad, 12-5, in the opener.

In the second game, Richland broke a 2-2 tie with two runs in the third to grab a 4-2 lead. TCS Post Grad scored once in the top of the fifth to make it a one-run game. The Thunderducks put four runs on the board in the sixth to put the game out of reach.

Julian Pokorny got the win in relief, allowing a hit and a walk without surrendering a run in 2.2 innings. He struck out three. Jackob Smoot pitched a scoreless inning, fanning two of the three batters he faced. Daniel Norris allowed a run, two hits and a walk, while striking out two in two innings of work.

Smith was 3-for-4 with a home run, double and three RBI. Third baseman Hernan Zamora and Phillips each had two hits in four at-bats. Zamora had a double and an RBI, and Phillips a stolen base. Pena and Chamblee each had a hit, and center fielder Seth Markham drove in a run.

Richland outhit TCS, 9-5, in the nightcap.

The Thunderducks will Vernon College in a doubleheader 12 p.m. Thursday before making the trip to Vernon for another twin bill noon Saturday.