Seven errors plagued the Brownwood Lions in their opening game of the Brown County tournament Thursday, but fourth-year head coach Brian Harris’ squad bounced back with 13 hits in the nightcap to salvage an opening day split.
The Lions fell to Andrews, 7-2, and knocked off Sweetwater, 13-3, and will next face Perryton at 5 p.m. Friday at Morris Southall Field. Brownwood (2-1) will close the tournament with a doubleheader Saturday against Jacksboro and Jim Ned beginning at 12:30 p.m.
Lions 13, Sweetwater 3
After spotting Sweetwater a pair of runs in the top of the first inning, the Lions answered with five in the bottom of the second, two more in the third, and six in the fourth to enforce the run-rule in the time limit contest.
Leading the charge offensively for the Lions were Taylor Bessent with four hits and four RBIs; David Turner and Case Markham each with two hits and a pair of RBIs; Gavin Brandstetter and Logan Posey with one hit and a pair of RBIs apiece; Austin Wright with a hit and an RBI; and Jack Field and Jordyn Nickerson with one hit each.
On the mound, Turner worked four innings and gave up three runs on four hits with three strikeouts and five walks.
“It took David a little bit to get warm, it’s cold out here, but once he found the plate he put the ball in play and we played defense,” Harris said. “We made the routine plays and you have do that and throw strikes. We took ourselves out of the first game by not making the routine plays. Offensively, we’re doing a really good job at the plate right now of seeing the ball well and our approach is what it needs to be.”
Brownwood’s five-run second inning featured a one-out double by Turner followed by a walk from Nickerson, then Markham delivered a two-RBI triple that allowed the Lions to knot the score at 2. Brandstetter was then hit by a pitch and Bessent reached on a dropped pop up that plated Markham. Posey followed with an RBI sacrifice fly that knocked in Brandstetter, and Wright’s RBI single permitted Bessent to come home.
Leading 5-3 in the bottom of the third, the Lions scored twice more when Nickerson, who led off with a walk, scored on an RBI fielder’s choice by Brandstetter. Later, Posey doubled home Bessent, who singled after Brandstetter.
Brownwood’s final six runs in the fourth were the result of a walk by Noah Gonzalez and a double by Field, ahead of a Turner two-RBI single into right field. Nickerson, Markham and Brandstetter followed with consecutive singles that boosted the lead to 10-3. Then, Bessent ripped a three-RBI triple to left-center field to close out the scoring.
Andrews 7, Lions 2
The Lions led 1-0 early and rallied to even the score at 2, but unforced miscues down the stretch allowed Andrews to snatch the victory.
Brandstetter tossed five innings of six-hit ball with five runs allowed – one earned – and five strikeouts. Cole Miller logged an inning of relief with two strikeouts, while Aidan Howard did not retire any of the four batters he faced and surrendered two runs.
The Lions were limited to four hits – two by Bessent and one apiece by Markham and Turner.
Brownwood took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning as Owen Huntsinger walked with one out and scored on Bessent’s RBI double.
Andrews grabbed a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth on three singles and an error by the Lions.
Brownwood bounced back in the bottom of the fourth to forge a 2-all tie as Bessent reached on an infield single, Markham added an infield base hit, and Turner came through with an RBI sac fly.
Andrews then scored three runs in the top of the fifth, thanks in part to three errors, to seize a 5-2 lead. The Mustangs scored twice more in the sixth as the inning began with three walks and an error by the Brownwood defense.
“The first game I was disappointed with the way we played defense but extremely proud of the way we pitched and the way we competed at the plate,” Harris said. “Gavin threw probably as well as I’ve seen him throw. He pitched good enough to win that baseball game and we just didn’t play behind him. We have to fix that and the guys know it.”
