Texas High made the most of its only scheduled non-conference baseball game Monday night at Tiger Field.
Two pitchers combined for a two-hitter and the Tigers scored eight runs in the first inning of 10-0 victory over Liberty-Eylau in the season-opener for both teams. The game was shortened to 4 1/2 innings on the 10-run rule.
Liberty-Eylau starter Parker Goodman retired the first batter he faced before the next eight Tigers reached base and scored. That was more than enough for Tigers' right-hander Michael Sikorski, who allowed just one infield hit, struck out three and walked one. He threw only 48 pitches in four innings.
Chris Sutton struck out the side in the fifth, allowing another two-out single with two outs.
Jakob Hearne, who led Texas High's eight-hit attack with a double and single, started the first-inning rally with his two-bagger, scoring on Sutton's triple to right-centerfield. Sutton scored on the first of five Leopard errors. Rian Cellers and Walker Davis also delivered run-scoring singles, Chris Lyles drove in two more with a hit, and Hearne capped the scoring with his second hit of the inning, driving in Lyles.
"We got off to a good start and played good defense behind our pitchers," said Tigers coach John McClure. "Our pitchers threw strikes, and didn't have that many pitches. Michael will probably throw again Saturday in the McKinney North tournament."
Connor Allred scored his second run after a leadoff double in the second inning, and the Tigers made it 10-0 in the third with an unearned run.
Ben Witterstaetter relieved Goodman with one out in the first inning and pitched into the fourth for the Leopards. Blake Carter retired all three batters he faced in the fourth.
Kevin Garza legged out the first infield hit to the left of the second baseman in the second inning, and Spencer Aldridge had the other hit to deep shortstop in the fourth.
Liberty-Eylau 000 00-0 2 5
Texas High 811 0x-10 8 0
Game called after 4 1/2 innings, 10-run rule.
Parker Goodman, Ben Witterstaetter (1), Blake Carter (4) and Carter. Michael Sikorski, Chris Sutton (5) and Jackson Halter. WP-Sikorski (1-0). LP-Goodman (0-1).