Livingston baseball laced up their cleats for a 10-1 win over the Hamshire-Fannett Longhorns Tuesday night.
The Lions were firing on all cylinders against the Longhorns. Rudy Marquez doubled to left field to lead off the bottom of the first, followed by a walk and a couple of Longhorn errors, allowing Livingston to take an early 2-0 lead.
In the top of the third, Hamshire-Fannett drew a bases-loaded walk, scoring their only run of the game.
Livingston blew the game open in the bottom half of the third, when Marquez got things started for the Lions on a blast to left field for his first high school home run. The senior and starting third baseman, a three-year varsity letterman, is committed to play ball at Angelina Junior College next season.
After a walk and two outs, Landon Hodges hit an RBI-triple down the right-field line, putting the Lions up 4-1. An RBI-single by Brayden Goins added another run for the Lions. Goins then stole second and third, followed by Jake Young drawing a walk to put runners on the corners. The Lions pulled off a double steal, scoring another run. After three innings, Livingston had a 6-1 advantage over Hamshire-Fannett.
Livingston extended their lead in the fourth on a wild pitch that allowed Jaxson David to score from third. They did it again in the fifth, when courtesy runner Ronnie Jones scored on a passed ball. David and Marquez both scored again in the sixth inning to ensure the Lions’ victory.
Livingston starting pitcher Hodges was fantastic on the mound, throwing six innings, giving up only one run on two hits, five walks, and struck out 10 batters. Roper Wood finished the game pitching an inning and striking out three. Goins went 2-for-2 with a walk, a run, three stolen bases, and an RBI. Hodges was 1-for-2 with a triple, walk, run, and an RBI. Marquez went 2-for-3 with a homer, double, three runs, and a stolen base.
Livingston is ranked No. 9 in the state with a 17-5 record for the season. The Lions remain tied with the Hargrave Falcons for first place in district with a 5-0 record.
