The Brazos Valley Bombers rode into Colleyville Friday night for a battle against Rusty Greer and his second-place LoneStars. The Bombers drove out of town with a critical 7-4 victory courtesy of a strong outing by starting pitcher Cody Curry, aggressive baserunning, and timely hitting.

The win gives the Bombers a two-game lead over the LoneStars, who slipped to third place in the Speaker Division. The Coppell Copperheads, who also won Friday night, leapfrog the Fighting Rusty Greers to take over second place, one and a half games behind the B’s.

The Bombers took a 1-0 lead in the third inning, sparked by designated hitter Tim Palincsar. Palincsar drove a one-out double to center, took third on a wild pitch, then came home on the second of Colleyville starting pitcher Sam Murphy’s three wild pitches in the inning.

After three scoreless innings, Curry (2-3) ran into a jam in the fourth. A leadoff double followed by a one-out single tied the game for the LoneStars. Two more singles loaded the bases for Kyle Livingston, who smacked a double off the wall that remarkably scored only one run. Center fielder Keith Stein delivered the ball to shortstop Ryan Weber, who through a strike to catcher Kip Masuda to nail the runner at the plate. Curry escaped a five-hit inning giving up just two runs, but Colleyville had captured a 2-1 lead.

Like the famous Rocky Balboa, the Bombers strength has been their ability to take punch after punch from the opposition, and then bounce right back with an offense of their own. The B’s did just that in the top of the fifth inning, rallying for four runs to take a 5-2 lead. Kyle Sisney posted a one-out single, followed by a four-pitch walk to Blake Walker. A double steal moved both runners into scoring position, and a Stein groundout to the right side tied the game. McGonigle gave Brazos Valley the lead with an RBI single to center, stole second, and scored on a Will Basom safety. Basom, normally not a threat to run, surprised Colleyville and swiped second, then came around on a double by Joseph Towns.

Aggressiveness on the basepaths proved to be a key on Friday night. The Bombers nabbed a team-record seven stolen bases and weren’t caught once, oftentimes prompting rallies by moving players into scoring position.
Inspired by his new lead, Curry returned to the hill in the fifth with new life. He struck out the dangerous Austin Knight in the fifth, one of his season-high four strikeouts. When Basom made a nice stab at a grounder in the sixth, Curry covered first and dove at the bag to record the inning-ending out.

In the seventh, Curry gave up a long out to Zak Presley before Andy Revell tabbed him for a solo homer. He managed another strikeout and a walk before being lifted, having gone 6.2 innings to cement the victory. Curry allowed eight hits and three runs, walking three against his four strikeouts.

The Bombers put the icing on the cake in the eighth inning. Weber picked up a two-out single and stole second. Sisney followed with a booming home run to left-center that cleared the scoreboard by at least twenty feet. The freshman’s first homer of the season gave the Bombers a comfortable 7-3 lead.

Reliever Evan Cox, who closed out the seventh for Curry, allowed a solo homer in the eighth, the only mistake of his outing. Closer Tyler Davis and his new Fu Manchu mustache shut the door by striking out the side in the ninth.

The Bombers were led at the plate by Sisney, who posted a single and homer in three at-bats, adding a walk, two runs scored, and two RBI. McGonigle added two singles as well, driving in a run and scoring another.

Following a well-deserved day off on Saturday, the Bombers return home for a pair with Duncanville. Sunday’s 3:05 pm game is another Bomb Squad Kids Club game, with all kids attending the game receiving a gift card for a free ice cream cone at McDonald’s, presented by Mix 104.7. Monday, July 31 is College Night, when anyone who presents a college ID gets a ticket for just one dollar, presented by Candy 95.

Possibly the highlight of the Bombers entire promotional schedule is still to come, on Saturday, August 4 – Acie Law Bobblehead Giveaway. The Bombers will be taking on Colleyville in the first game of a weekend series to close out the regular season, but most fans will be interested in what’s being given away at the door. The first 500 fans through the gate will receive a miniature bobblehead likeness of the former Texas A&M All-American basketball player, now a first round draft choice of the Atlanta Hawks, courtesy of Brazos Valley Bank. This exciting giveaway has had fans buzzing ever since it was announced. It is the first Brazos Valley merchandise item with Law’s likeness and it is sure to be a hot commodity, so fans are encouraged to get tickets early so they don’t miss out.