Cardinals drop hard-fought game to Hanna

HARLINGEN — The Brownsville Hanna Golden Eagles rode a two-run second inning for an eventual 7-6 victory over District 32-6A rivals Harlingen High on Friday evening at Harlingen Field.

With the win the Eagles improved their record to 10-3 and remain in second place in the district title race.

The Cardinals, meanwhile, dropped to 9-4 and fell to third place with only San Benito remaining on the regular-season schedule.

After Hanna’s Cristian Gonzalez opened scoring, teammate Ryan Casas singled to left field to bring in pinch-runner Rolando Ramirez, giving the Golden Eagles an early 2-0 lead.

In the third, Ricardo Perez drove in Gonzalez put Hanna up 3-0.

Down 5-0 in the bottom of third, the Cardinals erupted for five runs to tie the game at 5.

Harlingen’s Punky Ortega opened the scoring after a wild pitch by Hanna ace Noe Guerrero. But it was Marco Hernandez that got the crowd on its feet after smashing a two-run double to left field, scoring Kenny Reininger and Boedy Flores to cross the plate.

With the score 5-4 in Hanna’s favor, Hernandez managed to steal third base, however Hanna catcher Cesar Saldana overthrew his toss to third and Hernandez was able to walk in to tie the game.

Hanna’s Raul Perez and Ricardo Perez added the sixth and seventh runs for the Eagles in the seventh.

Harlingen threatened to come back again after an RBI single by Aaron Pacheco cut the lead to 7-6, but the Cards came up just short.