Strykers: Late rally sinks McKinney

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – Better late than never!

The Woodlands Strykers didn’t get their first hit Tuesday until a one-out double in the sixth inning by Rickey Sanchez. By then, the Strykers had already fallen behind 4-0.

But Sanchez later scored the Strykers’ first run in that inning and it sparked a remarkable comeback.

The Strykers proceeded to tie the game with a three-run seventh inning and then took the lead with another run in the eighth en route to a 5-4 win over the McKinney Marshals in the first game of a three-game homestand at Strykers Stadium on the campus of The Woodlands Christian Academy.

The Strykers made full use of five hits and five McKinney errors to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Michael Molina (walk) and Dan Perkins (fielder’s choice) both scored on an error as the Strykers rallied in the seventh. Garrett Lozano, who also reached on a fielder’s choice, scored the tying run on Sanchez’s RBI double.

The Strykers took the lead in the eighth when Brian Brightwell doubled and scored on a clutch two-out, RBI single by Dan Perkins.

Cory Maltz (2-0) got the win in relief. Maltz threw four innings of two-hit shutout ball, striking out three. The late pick-up for the Strykers has not allowed a run in 8 1/3 innings, spanning three appearances this season.

Strykers starter Alex Palsha worked the first five innings, allowing four runs on eight hits. He struck out seven.

After being tagged with a two-out, three-run homer in the first inning, Palsha settled in and gave up just one hit over the next three frames before the Marshals were able to push across another run in the fifth.

The Strykers improve to 13-27 for the season, sending the Marshals to a Texas Collegiate League worst 12-28 mark. The two teams get together again Wednesday night before the Strykers welcome in the Alexandria Aces on Thursday. Both games begin at 7:05 p.m.