MADISONVILLE, TX - Recent UIL rule changes have given programs the opportunity to pick up non-district games during the regular season, and a number of coaches are playing high caliber competition, outside of their district to prepare their clubs for an upcoming post-season playoff run. In addition, Saturday’s contest between Madisonville and College Station, gave us the opportunity to see the No. 8 ranked player in Texas, Matt Rudis (TCU), pitch against a solid College Station lineup.

Madisonville got on the board in the bottom of the second inning when 2018 SS Sam Bennett hammered a line drive to left field for a single, scoring Corey Shuck.

College Station answered in the top of the third, scoring a run on a first and third play which caused an errant throw. And the Cougars took the lead with another run in the fourth when Brandon Williams singled with one out, was bunted up to second, and Ben Holbert drove him in with a sharp single up the middle. 2-1 College Station.

In the bottom of the fifth, 2021 3B Brad Rudis singled to center field on a soft liner, driving in Ben Phillips, who reached on a one out walk. In the sixth, the Mustangs offense would continue to chip away, scoring a run on another single by leadoff hitter Sam Bennett, this time driving in his cousin, 2018 OF Bryce Bennett, a Cisco JC commit. 3-2 Madisonville.

With two outs in the top of the seventh, College Station was down to their last out with runners on second and third when 2021 SS Ty Hodge (Texas A&M commit) hit an infield single to score Ben Holbert. While Hodge was safe at first, the Cougar third base coach waved 2021 C Chanden Scamardo to the plate from second base, but Madisonville first baseman Zach Poe threw a strike to the dish to gun down the runner, and keep the game tied at 3.

In the bottom of the seventh, 2018 1B Zach Poe (Sam Houston State) singled to start the inning. After catcher Will Hudson walked, the Mustangs had the winning run on second base. Madisonville attempted to bunt both runner up a base, but College Station was able to get a force out at third to nab the lead runner. After a ground out to third base for out number two, Hudson’s pinch runner advanced to third, bringing the winning run just 90 feet away from home plate.

College Station elected to intentionally walk Corey Shuck, setting up an easy force play with the bases loaded. Thats when Senior Bryce Bennett came to plate with a chance to win the game. In an 0-1 count, Bennett singled up the middle for the walk-off 4-3 win.

Starter Matt Rudis went the distance for Madisonville, earning the complete game victory with 103 pitches thrown, 8 punchouts, and only 1 earned run. Uncommitted 2019 LHP Austin Teel went 5 innings for College Station, allowing 2 runs (0 Earned) on 2 hits, 4 walks and 6 strikeouts.

Here is the Walk-Off Game Winning knock by Bryce Bennett.

 

STATS
Madisonville
M. Rudis: (W) 7 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 8 K, 3 BB. Batting: 1-4
S. Bennett: 2-3, 2 RBI
Poe: 1-4
B. Rudis: 1-3, RBI
Shuck: 1-2
B. Bennett: 2-3, RBI (Game Winner)

College Station
Teel: 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 6 K, 4 BB
Hodge: 1-3, RBI
Roubion: 1-3
B. Williams: 1-3
Holbert: 1-2, RBI
Scamardo: 1-3

When traveling through Madisonville, I highly recommend eating at Walker's Cafe on the downtown square.

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Be on the lookout for Video and Scout Notes from this game in the next 24 hours.

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