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Dirtbags travel to Houston to take on No. 6 Rice

The Dirtbags had a flare for the dramatic last weekend against Texas as they managed to battle back not once, but twice, taking two of three games in the weekend series.

Trailing by two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday night, the Dirtbags tallied three runs that were capped off by a Bobby McMurray game-winning RBI single to lift the Dirtbags 7-6. The next afternoon, the Dirtbags did it again in dramatic fashion as they rallied back from an early seven-run deficit to win the game in the tenth inning on Brian Capon’s run-scoring single that give them the 9-8 victory. Remarkably, Capon’s game-winning hit was his first hit of his career.

The Dirtbags’ impressive play has been rewarded as they have jumped ten spots in the national rankings up to No. 20 (Collegiate Baseball Newspaper). Although No. 6 Rice (3-3) has been struggling as of late, the Dirtbags can’t afford to fall behind seven runs to the previously top-ranked Owls this weekend.

The Dirtbags (4-2) will face the Rice Owls Friday at 3 p.m., Saturday at 1 p.m., and Sunday at 12 p.m. in Houston.

LBSU will send right-handed pitcher Vance Worley (0-0, 3.75, 10 strikeouts) to the mound on Friday to face the Owls. Southpaw pitcher Omar Arif (1-1, 1.86, 8 strikeouts) will take the hill on Saturday. Sunday’s starter is yet to be determined.

Several Dirtbags have contributed to the team’s success so far. Left fielder Steve Tinoco is batting .600 (6-10) with a 1.000 slugging percentage for the season, including a .714 average (5-7) with three RBIs versus Texas last weekend. Outfielder Robert Perry is batting .409 (9-22) with three RBIs. Shortstop Danny Espinosa is batting .333 (8-24) with five RBIs on the season and a .384 average with two RBIs in the Texas series. The Dirtbags have a power hitter in right fielder Jason Corder, as he hit two homeruns in Saturday’s 9-8 victory over Texas to drive in two RBIs. He has three homeruns this year.

Dirtbags’ closer, Bryan Shaw, has been stellar thus far this season, giving up zero runs in 4.1 innings while posting a 1-0 record, one save with six strikeouts and only one hit allowed. In Saturday’s thrilling victory, Shaw was almost perfect as he stuck out five Longhorns in three innings while allowing just one hit.

The Owls narrowly escaped with a 4-3 victory over Texas-San Antonio Tuesday as center fielder Tyler Henley contributed with two RBIs. Pitcher Ryne Tacker picked up his first win of the season when struck out 9 batters in 5.1 innings, giving up only one run.

Dirtbags coach Mike Weathers believes that the out-of-state road trip will test the young players and they will have to adapt to transitioning from the airport-to-plane-to-hotel and still keep focus on their task at hand with Rice.

“The key to success will be to get runners on base and to create scoring opportunities,” said Weathers.

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