MARK MOLINA | Staff Writer
HARLINGEN — Aside from trying to salvage a bit of pride, the latest game between the Harlingen South Hawks and Harlingen Cardinals had nothing at stake.
At least for the Hawks, they were able to pick up the season sweep of the Cards after a 9-0 shutout win Tuesday night at Harlingen field.
The Hawks put up three runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back as their freshman pitcher Nick Muniz held the Cards to just three hits on the night.
“The score didn’t reflect the game too much, but I think my pitcher Nick (Muniz) did a good job,” South head coach Tony Leal said. “He’s a freshman and he came out in front of a good crowd and pitches like that — hats off to him for throwing some good pitches and having a good time.”
Muniz pitched a complete game and allowed just three hits, striking out six and walking four.
The Red Birds also had their share of missed opportunities to put up runs, stranding seven runners on base.
“It’s never how you quite draw it up,” Harlingen head coach Bryan Aughney said. “I told these guys that you have to go out and earn everything. If these seniors take anything from this program, it’s that if you want anything, you have to work for it. South just played better than us and made better plays.
“We had a chance to drive some runs in early and didn’t get it done; that’s the bottom line.”
In the top of the first with two on and two out, Wynn gave up an RBI single to South’s Chad Roberts for the game’s first runs.
South’s Alex De La Cruz followed that by bringing in Roberts and Alec Garza on a two RBI single.
Wynn seemed to settle down for Harlingen only to see South put up five more runs in the top of the fourth after giving up four hits.
The Cards’ defense did commit three errors in the inning, which allowed one of those runs to score.
Wynn was pulled later in the inning in favor of Connor Harlan after giving up seven earned runs on eight hits.
The Cards did have a shot to get back some of those runs in the bottom of the inning.
South’s Muniz allowed a hit to Harlingen’s Boedy Flores, and then loaded the bases by hitting Cody Garcia and walking Harlan.
Muniz, however, struck out Cardinals lead-off man Kenneth Reininger to get out of the inning unscathed.
South’s Roberts went 3 for 4 at the plate with an RBI, while Muniz also had a solid day at the plate, going 3 for 4 with two RBIs.