Galveston College freshman right-handed pitcher Zachary Fetchel was given a three-run lead in the first inning and he went on to strikeout 11 Temple College batters to shutout the Leopards 4-0 and earn a split in Wednesday’s doubleheader at Bernard Davis Field.
Fetchel pitched five innings of four-hit, shutout ball to get the win in the opening game of the twin bill. Whitecaps sophomore lefty David Irons came on in relief and pitched two innings while striking out five to seal the GC victory.
With the series split, the Whitecaps improved to 9-5 overall on the season. The Leopards won the second game, 6-3.
“Fetchel and Irons pitched a great game against a talented Temple College team,” said GC Head Baseball Coach, Brian Reinke. “Our guys gave us some early run support and our pitching ran with it and shut them down.”
Offensively, Whitecaps designated hitter Evan Aslaksen went 3-for-3, scored once and drove in a run, while first baseman Kenny Espinoza went 2-for-3, scored a run and brought in another.
In the second game, the Leopards jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first two innings before the Whitecaps could respond.
GC got a pair of runs back in the third to cut the visitor’s lead to 3-2.
However, TC chipped away at the Whitecaps pitchers a little at a time with runs in the fourth, sixth and seventh to widen their lead to 6-3, which was the eventual final score.
GC freshman lefty Cooper Corkrean was tagged with the loss. He gave up two runs on a single hit and walked a trio in less than one inning of work.
The Whitecaps visit TC on Saturday and Alvin Community College on Feb. 29 before returning home for a doubleheader against ACC on March 2 at 1 and 3:30 p.m. at Bernard Davis Field, located at 81st Street and Frank Guisti Drive in Galveston. Games are free and open to the public.
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.