Ninth Inning Comeback Secures Series Win For Amarillo

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX (May 17, 2026) -- The Amarillo Sod Poodles (20-18) defeated the Corpus Christi Hooks (17-22), 5-3, on Sunday night at Whataburger Field. Having squandered some great scoring chances earlier in the game, the Soddies cashed in with their backs against the wall in the ninth for a come-from-behind victory.

The Soddies wasted no time going in front in the top of the first, using good two-strike hitting and a little bit of luck to do so. With two outs and two runners in scoring position, Ben McLaughlin grounded a 3-2 pitch off the first base bag that allowed a run to score.

Soddies lead early thanks to a Ben McLaughlin RBI Single! #EmbraceTheAnimal pic.twitter.com/BydgNLpYw0

— Amarillo Sod Poodles (@sodpoodles) May 17, 2026

Corpus Christi responded in the bottom of the second inning, as the next two Hooks batters after a leadoff double from Trevor Austin moved the runner over and in with a pair of productive outs to tie the game at one apiece.

One hit and one run were the only blemishes on Daniel Eagen’s line in an abbreviated start of just three innings pitched. Amarillo’s bullpen picked up where Arizona’s No. 7 prospect left off, as Logan Mercado and Antonio Menendez combined to blank the Hooks over the next four frames.

The Hooks broke through in the eighth with Casey Anderson on the mound when a walk drawn by Austin and wild pitch during Yamal Encarnacion’s at-bat moved him up to second base, which allowed him to score on a shallow fly ball that landed just inside fair territory down the right field line. Jake Meyers added an insurance run with a double of his own to put Corpus Christi ahead by a score of 3-1.

A walk to pinch-hitter Junior Franco started the inning for the Soddies, and two consecutive errors by the Hooks defense cut Amarillo’s deficit in half and put the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position.

Jansel Luis immediately knotted the game with a sacrifice fly to center field. That brought Manuel Pena to the plate, and with Corpus Christi’s infield drawn in, a chopper over the head of Encarnacion at second base resulted in a go-ahead RBI single.

Too legit to quit. #EmbraceTheAnimal pic.twitter.com/BGLSXbhh8H

— Amarillo Sod Poodles (@sodpoodles) May 18, 2026

Gavin Conticello tacked on with a run-scoring base knock as the Sod Poodles ninth-inning rally ended with them holding a two-run advantage. The cushion was more than enough for Carlos Rey, who sat the Hooks down in order for the first Double-A save of his career.

POSTGAME NOTES

MELLOW CELLO: Gavin Conticello padded his case for Texas League Player of the Week with an RBI single and a walk in Sunday’s contest...he ended his series at Whataburger Field hitting .450 (9x20) with three homers, two doubles, six RBI, and a pair of walks in five games.

REY OF HOPE: Carlos Rey completed the first save of his Sod Poodles career with a spotless ninth inning...he brought his season strikeout total to 29 by sitting down Will Bush on strikes, as his 19.10 K/9 still leads all Texas League pitchers with at least 3.0 innings pitched.