KNIGHTS TAKE GAME ONE
April 7, 2006

FORT WORTH, TX: The Texas Wesleyan University baseball team (15-14, 1-3 RRAC) dropped the first game of a three-game set with RRAC North Division leading Northwood University (21-17, 6-1) by a score of 9-3 at LaGrave Field on Friday.

The Knights struck for three unearned runs in the first thanks to a two-run single from Scott Ylda that dropped just inside the right field line.  Nothwood added RBI singles from Randy Sykes, Justin Parks, and Jason Roberts in the second inning to take a 6-0 lead.

Texas Wesleyan starter Shea Harrison settled down and tossed four scoreless innings before being relieved by JR Phelps in the seventh.

Northwood made it 8-0 with a sacrifice fly from Ylda and an RBI double from Jim Brennan in the top of the seventh.

In the bottom of the seventh, Jason Diaz put the Rams on the board when he ripped a two-run double down the left field line, advanced to third on the throw to the plate, and scored when that throw bounded into the Rams’ dugout.

Josh Vander Hey nearly brought the score to 8-6 in the eighth, but the Knights’ right fielder, Bryan Root, brought his potential three-run homer back into the ballpark for the final out of the inning.

Northwood added a run in the ninth to cap the scoring at 9-3.

Justin Ashford tossed a complete game for Northwood, scattering nine hits across nine innings.  He allowed three runs while walking one and striking out six.  Shea Harrison (3-3) was tagged with the loss after allowing six runs (one earned) on 11 hits while striking out four in six innings of work.

Jason Diaz, Brandon Frazier, and Chris Palmer each went 2-4 for the Rams.  Randy Sykes went 4-5 at the plate for Northwood.