CLEBURNE SECURES SERIES WIN WITH 13-7 VICTORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 31, 2023
CLEBURNE – The Cleburne Railroaders cannot stop scoring runs. In another run-laden affair, the ‘Roaders collected their third series victory of the season with a 13-7 win over the Sioux City Explorers on Wednesday, May 31.
Railroaders’ starter Kody Bullard got through the top of the first unscathed, which let the Cleburne offense go to work in the bottom of the inning with a clean slate. The first three batters reached, allowing Jose Sermo the opportunity to blast an Austin Drury pitch over the left field wall for a grand slam.
Cleburne tacked on two more in the bottom half of the following inning. John Figueroa led off the frame with a single. Delino DeShields reached base on an error and then Alex Jackson served a single into center field, driving in a run. Zach Nehrir followed that up with an RBI single of his own, bringing the score to 6-0.
In his first two innings of work, Bullard had gotten into some trouble, but nothing had come of it. However, in the third, Sioux City was able to chip away at the ‘Roaders lead, scoring four times.
Flash forward to the bottom of the fourth, where the Railroaders put three more runs across. DeShields hit a ground-rule double, and Jackson was hit by a pitch. They both advanced via stolen bases, enabling Nehrir to drive them both in with an RBI single. Sermo then drove in Nehrir with a single of his own after Nehrir swiped second base.
It wasn’t until the seventh that either team was able to get another run on the board. Sioux City added to their total with a lone run in the top half. Cleburne put up four in the bottom half of the frame, putting the finishing touches on an excellent offensive performance.
Explorers’ reliever Nate Gercken retired the first two batters he faced in the inning but ran into some trouble once the top of the order came up. DeShields walked and Jackson hit an RBI triple. Nehrir then added to his RBI total with a two-run homer. Sermo then hit his second home run of the game, giving Cleburne their 13th run of the contest.
In the top of the ninth, Sioux City scored twice, but that would be it, as the Railroaders beat the Explorers 13-7 to secure the series victory.
Bullard picked up the pitching win, while Drury got the loss.
The Railroaders conclude their four-game series against the Sioux City Explorers on Thursday, June 1. Pregame coverage will begin a 6:45 p.m. on aabaseball.tv and on the Railroader Radio Network.