By Alan Wiederhold
HT Athletic Communications
AUSTIN – Huston-Tillotson University's baseball team completed a three-game weekend sweep of Philander Smith (Ark.) with a 6-0 win Saturday at Downs Field in east Austin.
Redshirt sophomore Sam Lozano enjoyed a career day on the mound, as he struck out 14 batters and walked only two en route to a four-hit shutout. His 14 strikeouts were the most by an HT pitcher this decade, while his nine-inning, complete-game shutout was the first for an HT pitcher since 2023.
With the sweep, the Rams (22-15) took sole possession of first place in the HBCU Athletic Conference's West Division with a 10-5 league record. HT's .595 overall win percentage is the highest in the conference.
Alex Worden picked up the game-winning run with an RBI double in the first inning to score Tucker Allen. Worden then scored moments later on Trey Garza's sacrifice fly.
Senior shortstop Tucker Allen capped his productive weekend with a two-RBI double in the sixth for his only official at-bat of the game after walking twice and scoring two runs. In HT's three games this weekend, Allen went 4-for-7 with seven runs scored, four walks, and five RBIs; he slugged 1.429 in the Rams' sweep of Philander Smith.
Owen Branch had the best outing of any starting pitcher for Philander Smith this weekend, lasting five and one-third innings. He struck out four batters and allowed only three hits but was hindered by control issues has he also walked nine batters. (But unfortunately for HT's sports information director and public address announcer, Branch nor reliever Ronnie Smith hit any batters, thus preventing the playing of the standard hit-batter sound effect!)
The nine walks by Branch more than made up for HT batters getting only four hits Saturday. Their four hits was a season-low for the Rams in a game in which they won.
Jaden Corzine and Jacob Perez collected hits in the game, while Noah Alvarez recorded a sacrifice fly in Saturday's win. HT catcher Christian Medina walked twice, which in turn produced the first career run for freshman and Austin local Bryce Paschel, who ran for Medina in a courtesy role.
The Rams will enjoy an off week and return to action after Easter when they visit Nelson University in Waxahachie, Texas for a non-conference game Tuesday, April 7. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
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