Corvallis, Ore. – The Titans opened their second day of 2020 with a double header versus No. 7 Yakima Valley. The Titans fell behind 9-0 in the first four innings before staging a come back that fell short, 13-8.
How it happened
Top-1: The Titans conceded two runs on a two-run home run.
Top-2: The Titans allowed two more runs to score, this time a stolen base of home and an RBI-groundout.
Top-3: An RBI-single and a balk with a runner at third allowed the Yaks fifth and sixth runs to score and increased the Titans deficit to six, 6-0.
Top-4: Things did not get any better in the fourth. A third RBI-single and a two-run single made it 9-0 Yaks.
Bottom-5: It took four plus innings, but the Titans found home plate thanks to a sacrifice-bunt from short stop Jayden Frank that scored Jaxon Woodhouse.
Curran Mitzel then scored on a passed ball to cut into the deficit to seven, 9-2.
Top-7: The Titans allowed their tenth run on an RBI-double.
Bottom-8: With the Titans down to their last six outs, they started the inning strong with a single from Matt Dallas. Jack Swisher then reached base on an error and Ethan Hixson drove in Dallas with an RBI-single to make it 10-3 Yaks.
After a line-out, Jaxon Woodhouse hit a two-run double to drive in Swisher and Hixson and made it a five-run game.
Top-9: Despite the offensive production the previous inning, the Titans were unable to keep the game close as Yakima Valley got three runs on a solo home run and a two-run double that put the game out of reach, 13-5.
Bottom-9: Still fighting, the Titans got a lead-off single from Tyson Heinz. Takanori Shimizu followed with an RBI-double.
After a ground out that moved Shimizu over to third, Jack Swisher doubled and scored Shimizu to make it 13-7.
Ethan Hixson then moved Swisher to second with a walk and brought up Nathan Sprenger who represented an opportunity to cut the deficit in half. Unfortunately, Sprenger was only able to get one run with an RBI groundout.
After a groundout to third by Jaxon Woodhouse, game one ended, 13-8.
What stood out:
2 UER: Because of three errors, the Titans allowed two unearned runs that pushed the game further out of reach … 7 stolen bases allowed: The Titans allowed seven free baserunners via walks, HBP and errors, but the seven stolen bases allowed turned into five runs … 6 walks - 4 strikeouts: The Titans drew six walks to only four strikeouts, an improvement from four walks to 10 strikeouts in game one versus Everett and three walks to six strikeouts in game two versus Everett … 10 hits: The Titans now have double-digit hits in all three games; 10 hits and 12 respectively versus Everett (Feb. 22).
Who stood out:
Jack Swisher: 3-5, double, two runs scored and an RBI … Ethan Hixson: 1-3, run scored, two walks and an RBI … Jaxon Woodhouse: 2-4, two doubles, two RBI's and a run scored … Tyson Heinz: 2-3, a walk, and a run scored.
What it means: The Titans fall to 1-1-1 overall.
What's next: The Titans play game two versus Yakima Valley to try and avoid an early season losing streak.