The Galveston College Whitecaps baseball team came back from a four-run deficit to defeat Angelina College 5-4 in 12 innings in the first game of a home-opening doubleheader on Jan. 30 before a jubilant crowd at Bernard Davis Field.

 

The Whitecaps also won the nightcap of the twin bill over the Roadrunners, 2-1, to sweep the two-game home opener.

 

“I’m proud of our players for not giving up and battling back from a 4-0 deficit,” said first-year Whitecaps Head Baseball Coach, Brian Reinke. “The second game was a lot closer, but we found a way to come away with the win to sweep the home-opening series.”

 

Whitecaps right-handed pitcher Zachary Fetchel (1-0) came on in relief and pitched the last out in the 12th inning, and was credited with the victory in GC’s 5-4 come-from-behind win in the first game.

 

Roadrunners hurler Cole Standley (0-1) pitched 2.2 innings of relief and gave up one run on a pair of hits. Standley struck out four and walked two.

 

Down 4-0 in the top of the sixth inning, the Whitecaps scored four unanswered runs in the home half of the frame to even the contest at 4-all.

 

For the next six innings, both teams went scoreless until GC broke the deadlock in the 12th inning. With one out, second baseman Ashton Beaird doubled, left fielder Landon Williams walked and catcher Cameron Christ was hit by a pitch to load the bases. First baseman M.D. Connor, who tied the game in the sixth inning, hit a sacrifice fly to center field and Beaird scored the game-winning run.

 

In the nightcap, despite being held to only one hit, the Whitecaps outscored the Roadrunners, 2-1. With a depleted pitching rotation, Fetchel continued in the second game and went four innings, giving up only one run on five hits and striking out five

batters. Right-hander Dylan Vinson (1-0) relieved Fetchel, tossed three innings of one-hit ball and struck out four to claim the victory.

 

Angelina College starting pitcher Colby Turner (0-1) took the loss. Turner gave up two runs, one earned, struck out three and walked two in 4.1 innings.

 

GC opened the scoring in the bottom of the third inning when Whitecaps center fielder Kyeler Thompson popped up to shallow center field and reached second on an error, which scored right fielder Zachary Daigre.

 

Angelina College knotted the game at 1-all in the fourth inning. With runners at the corners, Roadrunners shortstop Ryan Lewis hit a chopper to shallow third base and third baseman Sam Hardcastle scored when the throw to home plate went off GC catcher Ethan Hughes’ glove.

 

In the fifth inning, Whitecaps center fielder Thompson lined a two-out hit to center field and shortstop Marcus Delgado scored the eventual game-winning run.

 

GC won its third consecutive game with a 2-1 win over the University of St. Thomas on Feb. 1 at home. Whitecaps left-handed hurler David Irons (1-0) pitched two shutout innings of relief, struck out five and was given the victory. GC right-hander Cullen Flowers closed out the ninth inning by striking out the side and was awarded the save. With the win, the Whitecaps improved to 3-2 on the season.

 

Prior to the home opener, the Whitecaps dropped two away games at Angelina College 10-4 and 7-6 on Jan. 28.

 

GC will participate in the Bregman Cares Classic Feb. 9-11 at Sugar Land’s Constellation Field. The Whitecaps will face Eastern Oklahoma State College on Feb. 9 at 7 p.m., Grayson College and Odessa College on Feb. 11 at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.

 

The Whitecaps return home for a two-game series against Monroe College on Feb. 16 at 3 p.m. and Feb. 17 at 11 a.m. at Bernard Davis Field.

 

For more information about the Galveston College Whitecaps baseball program, rosters and season schedule, visit https://www.gcwhitecaps.com/landing/index.

 

ABOUT GALVESTON COLLEGE

Galveston College was founded in 1967 and is a comprehensive community college providing the residents of Galveston Island and the surrounding region with academic, workforce development, continuing education and community service programs.