Round Rock Falls Short in Slugfest, 8-7

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Round Rock struck first in the bottom of the first inning when SS Cam Cauley hit his first career Triple-A home run to give the Express a 1-0 lead.

2B Aaron Schunk answered right back with a solo home run to pull Gwinnett even 1-1 in the top of the second inning. The Stripers took a 2-1 lead a few batters later when RF DaShawn Keirsey Jr. followed with a home run.

Gwinnett extended their lead in the top of the third inning. After SS Jim Jarvis walked and then stole second base, DH Nacho Alvarez Jr. knocked Jarvis in to score with an RBI single to give Gwinnett a 3-1 lead.

In the fourth inning, LF Trevor Hauver reached on a walk and then advanced to second base on an error. SS Tyler Wade drove in Hauver with an RBI single to cut the Stripers’ advantage 3-2.

The Stripers responded with three runs in the top of the fifth inning. LF Luke Williams doubled and then scored on a fielder’s choice. Alvarez reached base on the fielder’s choice and then stole second before 1B Rowdy Tellez drove him in with a double. Schunk capped it off with a single to score Tellez from second base, extending the Stripers lead to 6-3.

The E-train quickly replied when Cauley walked to start the fifth inning and then stole second base. Hauver followed with a single to advance Cauley to third base. SS Tyler Wade recorded his second RBI of the season to cut the deficit to two.

Round Rock roared back with two outs in the sixth inning. C Cooper Johnson drew a walk and 3B Richie Martin followed with a single. RF Alejandro Osuna launched his first home run of the season to tie the game 6-6.

Gwinnett regained the lead in the seventh inning. Jarvis walked and Alvarez followed with a single to put runners in scoring position. Jarvis then scored on a fielder’s choice to make it a 7-6 Stripers lead. Alvarez then scored on a sacrifice double play to extend the Gwinnett lead to 8-6.

The Express did not go down quietly in the ninth inning. After consecutive walks by Cauley, Hauver, and 1B Justin Foscue to load the bases, but RHP James Karinchak came in to record the final out as the Stripers took game three, 8-7.

E-TRAIN EXCERPTS:

WADE’S WAYS: SS Tyler Wade went 2-for-3 with two singles, a walk, and drove in three runs on Thursday night. Wade is slashing .316/.348/.368 with 4 RBI and 6 H to start the season.

FIRSTS OF MANY: 2B Cam Cauley and RF Alejandro Osuna both notched their first career Triple-A home runs on. Cauley and Osuna combined to drive in four of the E-Train’s seven runs on the night.

NEXT GAME: Friday, April 3 vs. Gwinnett FIRST PITCH: 7:05 p.m. CT BALLPARK: Dell Diamond

For more information about the Express, visit RRExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Subscribe to the E-Train email newsletter and keep up with the Express on Facebook, Instagram and X!