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Scorpions Sweep Doubleheader, Clinch Berth in Conference Tournament
 Posted April 12, 2008
 MARSHALL, Texas –- After a dreadful start to the 2008 season, the UTB/TSC Scorpions have rebounded strong, and are now headed to the postseason for the first time in eight years.

UTB/TSC swept a doubleheader from Wiley College, 6-4 and 10-8, in Red River Athletic Conference South Zone games Saturday, April 12, to clinch a berth in the RRAC Tournament.

RRAC South Zone Standings
Team W L
Huston-Tillotson 9 0
UTB/TSC 7 4
Wiley 4 4
Jarvis Christian 2 7
Texas College 1 8
Weekend Scores
UTB/TSC 6, Wiley 4
UTB/TSC 10, Wiley 8
Huston-Tillotson 10, Texas College 6
Huston-Tillotson 5, Texas College 1
Huston-Tillotson 9, Texas College 2
Remaining Conference Games
Sunday, April 13
UTB/TSC at Wiley, 1 p.m.
Friday, April 18
Wiley at Huston-Tillotson (2), 12 noon
Jarvis Christian at Texas College, 12 noon
Saturday, April 19
Wiley at Huston-Tillotson, 12 noon
Jarvis Christian at Texas College, 2 p.m.

The postseason berth is the first for the Scorpion baseball team as a member of the NAIA, which UTB/TSC joined in the 2006-07 season. It is also the first postseason berth for the Scorpions since the 2000 season as members of the NJCAA.

UTB/TSC will host the six-team RRAC Tournament April 28-May 2. The top three finishers from the RRAC North Zone and South Zone will meet in the double-elimination tournament.

The Scorpions are now 7-4 in RRAC South Zone play with one conference game remaining against Wiley, which is now 4-4. UTB/TSC won its 20th game of the season against 27 losses after starting the season 1-15.

"We're excited to make the playoffs, but we know that we have a lot of work in front of us," Scorpion head coach Joel Barta said. "We know that we're in, but we know that we can put ourselves in a good situation with a win tomorrow."

UTB/TSC and Wiley meet again in the final game of the three-game series at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 13, in Marshall. It's the final conference game for the Scorpions, although the other four teams in the South Zone will play on April 18-19.

If the Scorpions defeat Wiley Sunday, UTB/TSC will clinch second place in the South Zone.

"It was a real good day," Barta said. "We had big leads in both games but didn't push the panic button and stayed with it. Our infield did great with five double plays."

After the weekend series, the Scorpions have only four regular season games remaining -- at home at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 15 against Texas A&M International University and on the road against Houston Baptist University April 19-20.

Scorpions 6, Wildcats 4 (first game)

Julian Moya (7-5) pitched a complete game for the Scorpions, going seven innings, allowing eight hits. He survived a shaky sixth inning that saw a 6-1 Scorpions' lead trimmed to 6-4.

The Scorpions scored four runs in the second inning and added single runs in the fifth and sixth.

The four-run Scorpion second inning was highlighted by five straight singles by Tyler O'Neal, Ignacio Celedon, Schaune Collins, Gilbert Puente and Scott Price. Ryan McDonald's double and Jacob Yousif's single accounted for the fifth run, and Collins' fielder's choice brought home the sixth run in the sixth.

UTB/TSC finished with 12 hits, three by MacDonald and two each by Yousif, O'Neal and Celedon.

Scorpions 10, Wildcats 8 (second game)

Just as in the first game, the Scorpions had a big lead and saw the Wildcats cut into it and make the game close. UTB/TSC led at one point, 7-1, before the Wildcats made it 7-6. UTB/TSC scored three times on a Celedon's three-run homer in the top of the ninth to make it 10-6 and Wiley added two in the bottom of the ninth to shave the lead to two runs.

Tony Lerma (6-4) went six and one-third innings for the Scorpions to get the victory. Evan Hardman picked up his second save of the season.

Celedon had a big day for the Scorpions, driving in five runs with two hits. O'Neal had three hits and scored three runs, while Collins added two hits. Jorge Camorlinga had three stolen bases.