FRISCO, Texas (March 2, 2024) – Day two of the 2024 Frisco Classic consisted of a pair of thrillers on Saturday from Riders Field. Game one between Indiana and Dallas Baptist that saw the Hoosiers overcome a 5-run deficit to earn a 9-7 win over a ranked DBU squad. Alabama then rounded out the night with a 7-6 win over the Arizona Wildcats to remain a perfect 11-0 on the season.
After being held hitless until the fifth inning on Friday against #16 Alabama, the Indiana (7-3) offense jumped ahead early on an RBI double down the left field line by Brock Tibbets in the first inning.
DBU (9-1) starting pitcher Jaron DeBerry settled in after being tagged for a run in the opening frame, surrendering three runs on seven hits with four strikeouts over 5.1 innings.
The Patriots then took the lead in the fourth with a 418-foot, two-run homer off the first baseman Chayton Krauss’ bat, giving DBU a 2-1 lead. Dallas Baptist added four runs in the fifth frame to open up a 6-1 lead.
Indiana’s offense answered with two runs in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly and a Tyler Cerny RBI single.
In the seventh, Indiana loaded the bases with one out. After an RBI single from Devin Taylor, Brock Tibbitts rocketed a bases-clearing triple that pushed the Hoosiers ahead, 7-6.
The Hoosiers added two runs of insurance in the eighth, making it a 9-6 advantage, but Dallas Baptist made it interesting in the bottom of the ninth with a solo home run from Miguel Santos. Back-to-back singles brought the winning run to the plate, but Ty Bothwell (2-0) got Nathan Humphreys to ground into a game-ending 4-6-3 double play.
Ty Bothwell earned the win after tossing 4.1 relief innings, allowing just one earned run while sitting down five via the strikeout.
On the offensive side, Indiana tallied 15 hits in the 9-7 win.
The Hoosiers were led by Brock Tibbits who racked up three extra-base hits, including two doubles and a triple, and four RBIs. Indiana saw five players record multi-hit games including a three-hit performance by leadoff hitter, Nick Mitchell.
GAME 2: #16 Alabama vs Arizona
Arizona (4-6) found the run column first in the fourth inning as Mason White turned on a fastball that clanked off the batter's eye in center field for a 428-foot, two-run homer. Just four batters later, the Arizona offense struck again with a two-run blast from Blake McDonald that extended the Wildcats lead to 4-0.
The Crimson Tide (11-0) faced their first deficit at the end of an inning on the season, but it did not last long. In the fifth, the Tide plated three runs, the first two coming on a two-run blast off the bat of Bryce Eblin. Later in the inning, Gage Miller drove home Justin Lebron with an RBI single to cut the Wildcats lead to 4-3.
In the top of the sixth, Will Hodo tied the game with a solo homer. Just an inning later, a defensive miscue by Arizona put the Crimson Tide ahead for the first time.
Alton Davis II then entered for Alabama in the home half of the seventh inning. Davis II hit Easton Breyfogle with the first pitch of his outing to load the bases before a sacrifice fly by Brendan Summerhill tied the game at 5-5. White then put the Wildcats ahead with an infield single.
Alabama’s eighth inning was down to the final out when Mason Swinney singled, Evan Sleight walked and both came around to score on a throwing error, giving the Crimson Tide a 7-6 advantage.
The Crimson Tide held their 7-6 lead into the bottom of the 9th. Summerhill drew a leadoff walk against Davis II before Alabama went to the bullpen. New arm Matthew Heiberger induced a flyout and a strikeout to bring up the last chance for Arizona. In an 0-2 count, Summerhill dashed for home but was caught stealing the final out of the ballgame, keeping Alabama’s perfect record intact.
The Alabama offense saw the leadoff man reach in each of the first five innings, but they did not manufacture a run until the 5th inning, largely as a result of Clark Candiotti’s ability to get well-timed ground balls that resulted in double plays as his outing consisted of four double plays. Candiotti exited after the sixth inning, finishing with a final line of 6.0 innings, allowing four runs on eight hits while fanning six Alabama hitters.
Davis II (1-0) earned the win for Alabama, tossing 2.0 scoreless relief innings of baseball while snagging 3 strikeouts.
After a quiet start offensively both teams saw a surge of offense. The Arizona Wildcats had two players record multi-RBI games, highlighted by a three-hit, three RBI day. Alabama was led by a flurry of multi-hit performers, including Miller, Swinney and Eblin.
The “visiting” teams on the scoreboard this weekend are an undefeated 4-0.
STANDINGS:
Alabama: 2-0
Indiana: 1-1
Dallas Baptist: 1-1
Arizona: 0-2
*tie breaker based on head-to-head record
SUNDAY, MARCH 3RD SCHEDULE:
Arizona vs. Indiana, 12:00 p.m.
DBU vs. Alabama, 4:00 p.m.
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