AMARILLO, Texas – The No. 5-ranked Johnson County baseball team split the opening day series against Amarillo College at HODGETOWN.
The Cavaliers opened the season with a 9-3 victory over the Badgers, giving head coach Eric Horner his 199th career victory, but win No. 200 was put on hold after Amarillo handed JCCC a 21-11 loss.
In the opener, Amarillo took an early lead plating two runs in the bottom of the first, but Johnson County took the lead for good in the top of the third inning.
Shortstop Chris Mancinas pounded a two-run homer over the left field wall and catcher Miken Miller ripped a two-run single to put the Cavaliers up 4-2.
Johnson County scored a run on a wild pitch in the fourth, added two more in the sixth off a home run to right field by first baseman Easton Roe and plated their finals two in the seventh off a left fielder Jeremy Comer home run over the right field wall.
Right-hander Josiah Golden earned the victory allowing three runs, one earned, off two hits with five strikeouts over four innings of work. Right-hander Keston Holmen pitched three scoreless innings to close out the game.
In the second game, Johnson County's offense remained hot, scoring 11 runs off 14 hits, but the Badgers had 21 runs off 17 hits including eight for extra bases.
Comer hit his second homer of the season, a solo shot to center.
Center fielder Bo Shinkle went 4-for-4 with double doubles, three runs and two RBI. Designated hitter Austin Hartwig had a double, a single and three driven in and second baseman Jake McClure went 3-for-4 and drove in two runs.
The two teams will close out the series with a doubleheader on Sunday, February 2 with first pitch scheduled for noon.