SALADO – The Thrall Tigers varsity baseball team fell 1-0 to the Salado Eagles in its season opener Monday, Feb. 16 at Salado High School.
A bases-loaded walk proved to be the difference as senior utility player Ty Matthews walked in the game’s only run in the bottom of the sixth inning.
It was a textbook pitchers’ duel, as both offenses struggled to generate momentum.
Junior Weston Smiley got the start for Thrall, pitching 4.1 scoreless innings. He allowed two hits and struck out two.
Thrall was held hitless, as Salado pitchers Ethan Robledo and Brayden Naegele combined to throw a no-hitter.
The Tigers never advanced a runner into scoring position and had just two baserunners all game, both coming on walks in the first and fourth innings.
The sixth inning shifted the momentum. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases for Salado, setting up the basesloaded walk that forced in the winning run.
Matthews went 1.2 innings giving up one run on two hits and an error.
Thrall went down in order in the top of the seventh.
The Tigers will look to rebound this weekend when they compete in the Salado tournament.
