In losing, Taylor may have discovered a new level of Hades that Dante missed in his “Inferno.” Just about everything that could have gone wrong for the Ducks did.
The Tigers used two bases-loaded walks - four free passes total - and a two-run infield single that took a high, arbitrary bounce to pin their District 24-3A rivals to the survival wall.
All four runs came with two out.
The Ducks (24-6-1) must win both games Saturday when the best-of-three series resumes at 2 p.m. at TC.
Taylor, in a must-win situation in Game 2, will go with ace Eric Brooks (10-1) in the opener Saturday, while Rockdale coach Jarad Richards said he had his three top arms available - Mark Drake, Billy Gonzales and Nic Hammett.
After losing to the 24-3A-champion Ducks twice in district play, Richards was overjoyed with Thursday’s results.
“The guys just went out and competed,” Richards said. “My pitcher (Justin Elliott) pitched his heart out. We have the momentum going into Saturday. We’re on a roll.”
The Tigers (22-7) trailed 2-1 going into the seventh. Taylor pitcher Jordan Stefek, who only went to a three-ball count on three previous batters, walked pinch-hitter Greg Chelf to open the inning.
He got Gonzales for his 10th strikeout before Randy Korenek slapped a double down the third-base line to put runners on second and third.
Stefek got the second out by fanning Drake. J.B. Debault walked on an eight-pitch duel to load the bases.
The Ducks’ lefty then walked Hammett and Chance Betchan to force in two runs. Dillan Schnerr then chipped a high infield bouncer to the right side to score the final two runs on the second pitch after Taylor changed pitchers.
The rally ended with a foul popup to catcher Dillon Pfluger.
Elliott, who pitched a six-hitter, got the first two out in the seventh on infield popups, but Pfluger reached base on a throwing error before Elliott got the final out when Stefek flied to center.
“He’s actually our No. 4 starter,” Richards said. “He only pitched one district game and had fewer innings than any of our other pitchers.”
Elliott walked two, hit a batter and struck out one.
The standing-room-only crowd saw Taylor claim a 1-0 lead in the second. Tyler Volek singled, moved to third on a sacrifice and a fielder’s choice before coming home on Samuel Jirasek’s infield single.
Rockdale deadlocked the issue in the top of the fifth. Gonzales reached on an infield hit, was sacrificed to second and scored on an infield throwing error.
The Ducks bounced back into the lead in the bottom of the sixth as Volek’s short fly ball dropped untouched between the shortstop and left fielder. He was sacrificed to second and scored on David Rodriguez’s line single to left.
Taylor left eight men on base and Rockdale stranded six.
No Tiger had more than one of his team’s four hits with Betchan and Korenek each having a double.
Volek had two of Taylor’s six hits.
If a third game is necessary, it will be played 30 minutes after the end of the second contest.
The Rockdale-Taylor winner will advance to the regional semifinals against Jasper or Carthage.
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