Unfortunately for the Leopards, what they didn’t do was win either game.
The Whitecaps spoiled Temple’s seven-run seventh-inning rally with a 9-8, eight-inning win, then overcame the Leopards’ two-run first inning with a three-run fourth to take the finale 3-2 at Danny Scott Sports Complex.
“We try to take something positive away from that first game,” said TC coach Craig McMurtry, who got a home run from Nick Anders in each game and a three-run triple from Will Sandifer. “But it’s a letdown to lose when you come back to get it into extra innings and then you don’t get it done.”
In Game 1, Galveston got to starter Tristan Gaines and Justin Williams - both sophomores from Temple High School - for seven runs in the top of the fourth inning as the Whitecaps seized an 8-0 advantage.
But Anders homered in the fourth, and the Leopards stormed back in their final scheduled at-bat. Matt Loughrey’s bases-loaded walk was followed by Sandifer’s bases-clearing triple to make it 8-5. Travis Trial’s groundout, Steven Smith’s triple and Hunter Bell’s double each drove in one run as TC tied it 8-8 and forced an eighth inning.
But a leadoff error gave Galveston a runner, who eventually scored on a squeeze bunt by Andrew Dewey. TC had a leadoff walk in the eighth but was retired in order.
The Leopards got off to a blazing start in Game 2 as Anders blasted a two-run homer in the first inning for a 2-0 lead. However, Canadian left-hander Andrew Buckham allowed only three hits the rest of the way in a complete game.
TC lefty Daniel Meadows threw six innings and was touched only in the fourth, when the Whitecaps used Colin Bowen’s two-run single and Kory Spencer’s run-scoring squeeze bunt to take the lead for good.
Said McMurtry: “It was kind of frustrating to lose two games today, but we found out the things we need to work on.”
Temple next will host Wharton County in a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Wednesday.
