Matthew Etzel, Crosscutters score seven unanswered runs in win over Trenton
Trending
Matthew Etzel wasn't getting those extra base-hits he wanted. Infield single after infield single -- not a bad problem to have -- he hadn't been getting more firepower in his swings.
That wasn't the case Wednesday night. The Crosscutters' leadoff man and Panola product rifled off a pair of triples and went 3 for 4 with a pair of runs and RBIs in a 7-5 win over Trenton at Bowman Field.
"I was having a little bit of trouble seeing the higher velocity," Etzel said. "Tonight I just started to get my legs a little bit more, keeping my head still, ended up seeing the ball better and just put the barrel on it. Good things happened."
All three of Etzel's hits were on 95-plus mph pitches. Etzel was also named the Player of the Week after going 7 for 16 with a double, home run, three RBIs and three stolen bases with a .438 batting average between June 6-12.
"It was nice. Definitely gave me a good confidence boost to make Player of the Week, but at the end of the day I just want to win games with my team. And tonight, we did that," Etzel said on the award.
After a one-out walk, Etzel belted one to the right wall for an RBI triple in the fifth inning. He was then doubled in by second baseman Isaac Nunez, who then came home on a wild pitch after working his way to third.
Williamsport (7-5) found itself down two runs in the second inning. From there, the Crosscutters put up seven unanswered runs behind hot bats and solid fielding. Of the team’s seven hits, Etzel recorded three of them.
"Basically, I just try to stick with an approach where early on in the count, I only swing on things I know I can crush," Etzel said. "Especially in up-counts too and also when I'm down in the count with two strikes, just being able to perform and play."
Williamsport took full advantage of Trenton errors in the bottom of the fourth inning. Etzel led off at the top of the order with a hit to center. He then advanced to second base when the pitcher tried picking him off at first and the ball passed the baseman.
With Nunez up next, another passed ball at first base allowed Etzel to come all the way home and Nunez reached second. With one out, first baseman Lance Logsdon scored Nunez with a base hit to right field to tie the game.
A base hit from Daniel Harris and fielder's choice advanced Logsdon to third. Immediately after, Flood stole second base as Logsdon stole home plate, taking a one-run lead over the Thunder (6-6) in the process.
"We gotta play the game. Their pitchers did well at the start and we had to capitalize on the little things," Crosscutters manager Jesse Litsch said. "Some guys came up big with some big hits in good situations and it definitely helps the process, putting some runs on the board and getting out of some innings."
The Thunder made some noise in the second inning starting with a line drive to right field from Ryan McCarthy (2 for 4, RBI) for a one-out double. After a walk, McCarthy stole third base and was brought home with a base hit to right field by Nate Ochoa.
Back to the top of the order for Trenton, Mason Hammonds knocked an RBI single to load the bases before the Crosscutters got out of the inning with a flyout.
Behind Lex Garcia, Williamsport's field made two straight 5-4-3 double plays. Garcia earned the win on the mound with two scoreless frames and struck out two.
"That's something we've done well all year. We field the ball pretty good," Litsch said. "Our guys, wherever we put 'em, everyone's been in the infield, so the infield is pretty versatile. It's definitely been a plus on our side as far as the fielding. We did some early stuff today and it looked clean there, so it definitely went over to the game."
The Crosscutters also came into the game with a fielding percentage that ranked best in the MLB Draft League .971. In 379 total chances, Williamsport had only committed 11 errors. Through nine more innings Wednesday, the field remained sharp and errorless.
"Realistically, we've done our work. The guys have put in the work. They do what they need to do to get better and they're out there taking ground balls every day," Litsch said. "They're the ones doing it, we're just the ones being the guides for 'em."
McCarthy knocked an RBI single with two outs to cut the game to four runs in the top of the eighth. EJ Exposito hit a two-run homer with an exit speed of 101 mph to cut the game to two runs before an out was made in the ninth.
With three extra-base hits, Williamsport currently ranks second in the league of that category with five triples and a league-high 25 doubles.
"We swung the bats. We came out there, told them to be aggressive early and that's kind of what they did," Litsch said. "We got on them and tried to make some counts the best we could and came up with some hits in some decent situations."