A nightmare seventh inning dooms Tigers in 16-11 loss

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Despite holding a four run lead heading into the seventh inning, the Snyder Tigers dropped Monday’s home opener to Lubbock High School, 16-11.
A 10-run seventh inning was the Tigers’ undoing.
Sophomore Derek Dominguez got the start for the Tigers and struck out two in a scoreless first inning.
Sophomore Cameron Smith scored the first run of the season on a fielder’s choice by senior Ryan Rodriguez. Dominguez helped himself later in the inning on a RBI single, allowing Rodriguez to score.
The Tigers got another run later in the inning when Austin Escobedo came in to score on a passed ball, giving Dominguez a 3-0 lead to work with heading into the second inning.
The Westerners got a run back on a run-scoring double play, but Dominguez recorded his third strikeout to end the inning a batter later. Lubbock drew another run closer in the top of the third on a Snyder error, leaving Snyder with a 3-2 lead heading into the bottom of the third.
Sophomore Dylan Rodriguez got things started when he doubled to center field, scoring sophomore Bryce Ford. Sophomore Jerek Pena drove Dominguez home on a fielder’s choice, and junior Leeroy Tavarez extended the Tigers’ lead to 6-2 on a sacrifice fly to score Pena.
Escobedo took over on the mound for the Tigers in the fourth inning and struck out the first batter he faced.
Escobedo kept the Westerners off the board in the fourth and Snyder got back to work offensively.
Ryan Rodriguez drove in Smith on a single to leftfield before junior Blaine House scored on a Ford single, extending the Tigers’ lead to 8-2 heading into the final three innings.
The Westerners cut into the lead on a three-run double, but Snyder continued to build onto its lead in the bottom of the fifth as both House and Rodriguez hit RBI singles, allowing Tavarez and senior Trey DeLoera to score.
House then scored on a Lubbock error and Snyder built an 11-5 lead heading into the sixth inning.
The Westerners got one run in the sixth and one inning later, capitalized on Snyder’s mistakes to take the lead. Six walks, four errors and three passed balls led to a 10-run seventh inning for the Westerners.
The Tigers went to three different pitchers trying to limit the damage, but the damage was done. Snyder was held scoreless in the bottom of the seventh, resulting in the 16-11 loss.
The Tigers will open up play in the Iowa Park Tournament on Thursday.

Snyder pitchers: Derek Dominguez, 3 innings pitched, 6 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, 4 strikeouts; Austin Escobedo, 1 inning pitched, 2 hits, 3 runs, 4 walks, 1 strikeout; Jerek Pena, 2 innings pitched, 4 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 1 strikeout; Cam Smith, 3 hits, 6 runs, 3 walks; Ryan Rodriguez, 2 runs, 2 walks; Leeroy Tavarez, 1 inning pitched, 1 hit, 2 runs, 1 walk
Snyder hitters: Cam Smith, 1 hit, 2 runs scored, 2 walks; Blaine House, 3 hits, 1 double, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI; Ryan Rodriguez, 2 hits, 3 RBI, 1 run scored; Bryce Ford, 1 hit, 1 run scored, 1 RBI, 2 walks; Derek Dominguez, 2 hits, 1 hit, 1 run scored, 1 walk; Dylan Rodriguez, 1 double, 1 RBI, 1 run scored, 1 walk; Austin Escobedo, 1 run scored; Jerek Pena, 1 RBI, 1 walk; Leeroy Tavarez, 1 hit, 1 run scored, 1 RBI; Trey DeLoera, 1 hit, 1 run scored