Baseball | 02.17.2026
Eagles Rally Falls Just Short in 5-4 Loss to Dallas College Richland
Mount Pleasant, TX — Northeast Texas Community College erased an early deficit with a four-run fourth inning, but Dallas College Richland answered late to hand the Eagles a 5-4 setback Monday afternoon.
Richland struck first in the second inning, capitalizing on free passes to plate two runs on an RBI walk by Mason Anania and a sacrifice fly from Ryan Kramer.
The Eagles responded in a big way in the fourth. David Sorg later scored on an RBI double by Josh Staten to put NTCC on the board. Cameron Reiter followed with an RBI fielder's choice to tie the game at 2-2. Moments later, Carson Umphres delivered the biggest swing of the afternoon — a two-run home run to give the Eagles a 4-2 lead.
Richland trimmed the lead in the fifth when Xavier Perdomo connected for a solo home run, then took control in the seventh. A pair of walks and a hit set the table before Max McLemore lined a two-run single to center field to give the Thunderducks a 5-4 advantage.
NTCC outhit Richland 7-4 but couldn't overcome missed opportunities. The Eagles left eight runners on base and were limited to one scoring inning despite multiple chances throughout the game.
Control proved costly on the mound. NTCC pitchers issued eight walks and hit three batters, allowing 11 free bases that played a significant role in Richland's five runs. Kyler Miritello struck out three over two innings of work, and Bryson Bentley provided 2.1 scoreless innings of relief to keep NTCC within striking distance late. Jake Pempsell was charged with the loss after allowing two runs in the seventh.
Umphres led the offense, finishing 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs. Staten added a double and an RBI, while Sorg, Reiter, and Kaleb Steiger each recorded hits.
Richland's bullpen proved decisive, as Barrett Howard tossed three scoreless innings before Hank Nokes closed the door in the ninth to earn the save.
Turning Point Spotlight
The difference in the game ultimately came down to free bases and missed opportunities. NTCC pitchers allowed 11 free bases between walks and hit-by-pitches, giving Richland extra chances to manufacture runs despite collecting just four hits. Offensively, the Eagles left eight runners on base and were unable to add on after their four-run fourth inning — a slim margin in a one-run game.
