Rockhounds: The Journey has one, final step

Sports
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Momentum Ballpark | Midland Rockhounds

It's down to this, the Texas League 2024 championship will be decided Wednesday.

The Arkansas Travelers defeated the Rockhounds, 3-1, in Game 2 of the best of three Texas League Championship Series Tuesday night at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock, Arkansas, according to Bob Hards with the Rockhounds.

The Travs evened the series at one game a piece, forcing a third and deciding game.

Arkansas broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth in a rough inning for reliever Colton Johnson. The left-hander walked two batters and had a throwing error, loading the bases with one out. Lincoln Henzman entered the game and limited the Travelers to one run on a sacrifice fly from pinch hitter Victor Labrada, aided by a brilliant, run-saving play by third baseman Jordan Goshans.

The Travelers took a 1-0 lead with a two-out rally in the first, triggered by Jared Oliva's double. After Ben Williamson walked, Alberto Rodriguez sent an RBI single to left, bringing Oliva home. It would be the only run allowed by Rockhounds starter Mason Barnett over five innings.

While both clubs had scoring opportunities, Arkansas took the 1-0 lead into the sixth inning when three consecutive hits pushed the Rockhounds into a 1-1 tie.

Will Simpson singled with one out. Groshans, who batted 3 for 4, followed with a double, and Jack Winkler's line drive to left field tied the game.

The Rockhounds out-hit the Travelers, 13-5 but scored just one run. Arkansas, meanwhile, scored its second and third runs while collecting just one hit. The Travs scored the game winning and insurance runs on a single, two walks, a sacrifice fly, a stolen base, two errors and an unusual 6-2-3 ground out. Both of the runs were unearned.