Indiana Team Downs N. Texas Titans

— Things didn’t start like Indiana Bulls Red coach Tony Cookerly wanted Thursday afternoon at Veterans Park, but Devin Nickelson helped make sure it finished fine.

Nickelson pitched 6 2/3 innings of solid relief, after the North Texas Titans scored two runs in the top of first and the Indiana team’s offense did the rest in the Premier Baseball National Sophomore Championship.

Troy Kuhn went 3-for-4, including a three-run home run, as the Bulls Red scored seven runs in the first two innings and claimed an 8-4 win.

However, the South Texas Sliders knocked off the Indiana team 13-2 later in the day to leave three teams tied at 2-1 in their pool.

Cookerly may have been happy with Nickelson’s effort on the mound, but he wasn’t thrilled with his team’s overall approach at the plate.

The Bulls Red scored four in the bottom of the first inning, keyed by Kuhn’s three-run blast off the left-field light pole, then added three more in the second for a 7-2 lead.

Ryan Levenhagen was one of three Bulls Red players who finished with two hits each. Levenhagen slammed a run-scoring triple in the first and added an RBI double in the second.

But Cookerly’s team struggled offensively after the first two innings.

“I don’t know why we were popping up so much,” Cookerly said. “I guess maybe the velocity is a little different from what we’ve been seeing. Quite honestly, I wasn’t real pleased with our approach at the plate.”

But Nickelson sure did the job. The right-hander allowed two runs on five hits over 6 2/3 innings. He struck out nine and walked two.

“He hasn’t throw a lot lately and we kinda threw him in there on a surprise,” Cookerly said. “I’m happy with the way he pitched and held base runners on. That’s something he’s on a little bit.”

Caleb Jacques went 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles to lead the Abilene-based North Texas Titans.

Premier Baseball Championship

Indiana Bulls Red 8

North Texas Titans 4

North Texas 200 011 0 —  4 7 0

Indiana 430 010 x — 8 11 0

Carnahan, Nickelson (1) and Duncan; Humphreys, Dodderer (5) and Kuzinski. W — Nickelson. L — Humphreys. HR — Indiana, Kuhn.

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