Alexandria, LA (June 9, 2010) – The Brazos Valley Bombers were unable to overcome an early deficit to the Alexandria Aces, losing 11-5. The combination of the Aces offensive explosion and lackluster pitching and bad base running by the Bombers proved to be the difference in the game.
Bombers’ pitchers threw five wild pitches on the night, walked seven batters and hit four more. The base running woes continued for the visiting team with a pickle in the first that ended a bases loaded threat. Morgan Mickan was caught between second and third and Greg Olson took off for home plate from third, trying to score during the run-down. Instead, Olson was tagged out at home, ending the early threat. Two innings later Greg Olson was hung out to dry on a failed hit and run, ending another Bombers’ threat.
Both teams were held in check until the bottom of the fourth when the Aces exploded for six runs against Bombers’ starter Brian Borski. Borski had a perfect game going through the third inning, but a ground ball off of his glove turned into an infield single to end the bid for perfection. Borski hit the next batter, and the floodgates opened. The home team batted around in the inning, scoring on RBI singles by Matt Holsman and Shane Ardoin, a sacrifice fly by Kelvin York, a Borski wild pitch, and a two RBI triple by Judd Edwards to make the score 6-0. The Aces added another run in the sixth on an RBI single by Brent Lindsey moving the score to 7-0.
The Bombers offense came to life in the seventh, scoring five, including their first run of the series on a bases loaded walk to Michael Flores, scoring Tanner Toal. Two batters later John Cannon scored on an Isaac Nuti single. Morgan Mickan then plated Wes Patterson and Flores on a line drive single up the middle, and Nuti scored on a groundout by Josh McElroy. The Aces only escaped further damage on an incredible diving catch by the center fielder Ardoin that saved two runs, holding the score at 7-5 Aces.
The Aces got three runs back in the bottom of the seventh on three wild pitches by Blake Fonfara to move the score to 10-5. In the eighth the Aces added one more on a wild pitch by Michael Mason making the score 11-5.
The Bombers leadoff man Olson walked to open the ninth, but the offense was unable to get anything going from there. The Bombers now stand at 1-5 in the Texas Collegiate League. The team will be back in action tomorrow night as they take on the McKinney Marshals at Brazos Valley Bank Ballpark. Get out to the ballpark for Thirsty Thursday where you can find $1 beer and $0.50 soft drinks all night thanks to Western Beverages.