By Frank Mentesana
Special to LIVE!
August 3, 2007

SAN ANGELO, Texas – San Angelo Colts right-hander Brian Henschel has been able to do something no other Colt pitcher has done this season: win against the Alexandria Aces. After Thursday’s series finale, Henschel has now it done twice, as the Colts beat the Aces 5-2 to avoid a four-game series sweep.

San Angelo is still just 2-8 in 10 meetings between the two teams, but both victories have come with Henschel (7-6) on the mound. The Hartland, Wisconsin native threw eight innings, allowed just two runs, only one earned, on nine hits with five strikeouts and no walks.

He and the Colts fell behind early though as Alexandria took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Tyrone Pendergrass singled to begin the game, went to third base on an errant pickoff attempt by Henschel, and scored on a single to left field by Richard Paz.

The Colts evened the score in the second inning as Jason Crosland led off the frame with a double and then moved to third base on a wild pitch by Aces starter Brian Bunyan. Madison Edwards, the next batter, brought home Crosland with a sacrifice fly for his first of two RBIs of the night.

The Aces regained the lead in the third though, scoring what turned out to be their final run of the night. Pendergrass hit a one-out, solo home run, his second of the year, to put the Aces back on top, 2-1.

The Colts used the long ball themselves, not only to tie the game but also to take the lead. Crosland hit a solo blast to center in the fourth, his 16th dinger of the year, to knot the score at 2-2. Josh Hollingsworth hit a solo homer in the fifth, his second of the season, to give the Colts their first lead of the series, at 3-2. San Angelo scored for the third straight inning with two more runs in the fifth to take a 5-2 advantage. Crosland, who was 4-for-4 with three runs, once again began the inning with a double and went to third on a wild pitch. This time, Edwards used a single to score Crosland, giving the Colts a 4-2 edge. Edwards then scored an unearned run on an error by third baseman Bryan Sabatella to put the Colts on top 5-2.

Bunyan (3-1) took the loss, lasting five innings, allowing five runs, four earned, on nine hits with five strikeouts and no walks. Colts closer Chace Vacek threw a scoreless ninth inning, even recording four strikeouts. Wilson Burwell, the third batter Vacek fanned, reached on a wild pitch on the third strike, but Vacek struck out Eddie Fitzpatrick looking for his sixth save.

The Colts continue this seven-game homestand with the opener of a three-game series against Amarillo at 7:05 p.m. on Friday, August 3; Coca-Cola sponsors a Six-pack Cooler giveaway for the first 1,000 fans through the gates, which open at 6:05 p.m.