The Brazos Valley Bombers might ask Gary Blair to leadoff the first inning of every game this season. With the Texas A&M Aggies Women’s Basketball Coach serving as the DH tonight, the Bombers reached double-digits for the first time this season, as they defeated the McKinney Marshalls 11-7. The Bombers pounded out 11 hits and had 22 base runners in a game that included 21 walks. The win puts the Bombers into a 3-way-tie with McKinney and Coppell.

The Bombers started off strong once again, scoring in the first inning for the 5th game in a row. Todd Cunningham doubled to deep left field, advanced to 3rd on a passed ball, and eventually scored on Dustin Dickerson’s single. Trey Sperring then scored on an error to make the score 2-0.

Bombers starter Taylor Hammack was lights out to begin the game and threw four innings of no-hit ball, but ran into trouble in the 5th inning. Brian Nelson had four passed balls and Hammack struggled to find the strike zone and wound up giving up four runs as the Marshals jumped ahead 4-2. An inning later, the Bombers batted all the way through their lineup as they used 2 hits and three walks to score five runs to go on top for good, as they took a 7-4 lead.

The Bombers ran into some trouble in the bottom of the ninth inning, as Texas A&M pitcher Jordan Chambless struggled to find the plate. With the Bombers enjoying a comfortable 11-4 lead, he walked four batters and hit two more as the Marshals closed the gap to four runs. With the bases loaded and J.B. Brown representing the tying run at the plate, the Bombers brought in utility man T.J. Mittelstaedt to stem the tide. Brown worked the count to full and with the crowd on their feet and the adrenaline pumping, hit a fly ball to left field that Tyler Huelsing pulled in to capture the win for the Bombers.

The Bombers will wrap up their two game series with McKinney tomorrow with Jim McGonigle on the hill. McGonigle pitched six innings last week against Coppell without allowing an earned run as the Bombers beat the Copperheads 2-1. Tomorrow is also Baseball Bingo night at Brazos Valley Bank Ballpark, which will also include a Father’s Day watch giveaway, $1 soft drinks and $1 hot dogs.