No. 5 Thunderducks Roll Past Blazers

IRVING, Texas – Dallas College Richland's fifth-ranked baseball team beat host Dallas North Lake, 10-5, Wednesday to open a three-game series.

The Thunderducks won their 20^th game of the season, and moved into sole possession of second place in the Dallas Athletic Conference. Richland improved to 20-11 overall, 7-3 in the DAC. North Lake fell a game below .500 to 14-15 overall, 6-4 in the conference.

Game 2 shifts to Richland noon Thursday. Game 3 will also be played at Richland noon Friday. The two teams will then play a nonconference game immediately following conclusion of the three-game series Friday.

North Lake jumped out to a 2-0 lead after one inning, using an RBI single to center by Michael Holden and a sacrifice fly to center by Noah Angus. Richland picked up a run in the second and third innings to tie it. Eimir Perez singled to center to score Nick Hockemeyer in the second. Hockemeyer lined a single to left on a 1-2 count in the third to bring home Trey Smith, knotting the game at 2-2.

Reece Parrott looped a single into right in the bottom of the third to drive in a run, putting the Blazers back in front. The Thunderducks responded with two in the fourth on Hernan Zamora's RBI single to center and Trace Chamblee's RBI double to right to right to take a one-run lead.

Kelton Phillips' two-run double in the fifth extended the lead to 6-3, and Smith's two-out sac fly to right made gave the Thunderducks a four-run lead. North Lake's Jacob Binder stole home on a double-steal with two outs in the bottom half of the inning to cut it to 7-4. Holden's RBI single in the sixth pulled the Blazers within two. But the Thunderducks tacked on three more in the eighth on Robby Lopez's RBI single to left and Seth Markham's two-run single through the left side.

Richland closer Josh Branter, who worked the final 3 1/3 innings for the save, retired three of the last four batters to seal the victory. He gave up two hits and a walk, and didn't allow a run. Starter Jacob Smoot picked up his third straight win, going 5 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on 10 hits and four walks, with four strikeouts.

Markham had a career-high four hits, and drove in two runs in five plate appearances. Smith and Chamblee both went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Zamora, Hockemeyer and Perez each were 2-for-5 with an RBI.  

Angus was 2-for-2 with two walks and an RBI for the Blazers. Lincoln Skinner was 2-for-4. Robert Farr, Holden and Parrott each went 2-for-5.

The Thunderducks outhit the Blazers, 16-12.