McKinney, TX- Greg Maddux would have been appalled with the defense displayed by the pitchers from North Texas (1-1) and McKinney (1-1) over the past two nights. In a series that has seen a total of ten errors over a pair of games, seven of those mistakes have come from the pitchers of both teams. Despite his two errors on the night, McKinney Marshal starting pitcher Vance Woodruff (Grayson County) allowed only two runs while striking out eight Copperheads over eight innings, picking up the Marshals’ first win of the season.
North Texas jumped out to a 2-0 lead after three and a half innings, thanks to a pair of RBI fielder’s choice grounders by C Matt Shortall (Tulane), and the play of starting pitcher Teddy Nowell (Navarro/TCU). Nowell struck out six batters over his four innings of work, allowing only one run off five McKinney hits.
The Marshals took the lead in the fifth inning off North Texas reliever Zak Hermans (Princeton), scoring a pair of runs on three hits.
McKinney LF Nico Taylor (Texas State) added another run for the home team with a solo home run to lead off the sixth. The Marshals put up another three runs over the final innings before Woodruff gave way to reliever Chase Huchingson (Central Arkansas).
Huchingson, making his first appearance on the mound, struck out the side in the ninth inning to give the Marshals their first win of the season over their rivals.
Hermans was saddled with the loss (0-1), while Woodruff picked up the win (1-0). McKinney 2B Ethan Stuckley (Tarleton St.) led the Marshal offense with three hits in four at bats, including a double and four stolen bases. Nico Taylor added three RBI on two hits with a home run and sacrifice fly.
McKinney hosts Brazos Valley at 7:05 PM on Friday, while North Texas hits the road to take on the Alexandria Aces on Wednesday and Thursday in Louisiana.
