By: Ryan Lackey

AUSTIN, Texas --- The Bruins capped off their preseason Texas trip with a resounding win on Saturday night. After a tough 5-1 afternoon loss, the Bruins battled through an offensive shootout to defeat the Rhodes Lynx, 13-8.

Recap:
With 21 total runs scored, Saturday's game was, if nothing else, exhilarating. The Bruins scored in every inning, excepting the seventh and the ninth. The Lynx had a six-run seventh; the Bruins racked up five in the fourth. Defensively, however, both teams were less than precise: Rhodes made three errors, the Bruins committed four, and eight unearned runs were scored.

The Bruins opened the scoring in the first when Riley McKean singled in Gabe Louthan. They added single runs in the second and the third, both on wild pitches. Then, in the fourth, the Bruins broke out for five runs. With two outs and the bases loaded, Connor Newell sliced a double to left to score two. After a walk to Clay Mott, Caylen Clardy followed with another slashed double to left, clearing the bases and stretching the Bruins's lead to 8-0.

Now running rampant, the Bruins tacked on two in the fifth, again on a double to left. This time, with two runners on, Ansel Webster drilled one into the left-center gap, plating Jacob Woehler and Jantzen Tamanaha. Woehler decided to get in on the action in the sixth. With the bases loaded and two outs, once again, Woehler turned on an inside pitch and yanked it to left for a single, and the Bruins were up 12-0.

After five stellar innings from starter Sam Moreland, who gave up just two hits, the Bruins lost their shutout in the seventh. The Lynx hung six runs on relievers Nathan Higa and Blake Stassi to cut the Bruins's lead in half. Then, in the eighth, Rhodes added two more runs and the score was suddenly narrow, 12-8. In the bottom of the eighth, though, the Bruins added insurance when Derek Johnson singled in Clardy, and the 13-8 final stood.

Top Performers:
Caylen Clardy had his best day of the year at the plate. Clardy finished 2-4 with three runs and three RBIs, playing both in right field and at shortstop. Woehler went 2-3, scored three times, and knocked in two. Derek Johnson went 2-2 with a run and RBI. Ansel Webster had a run and an RBI as part of his 1-2 day. Connor Newell drove in two.

What It Means:
The Bruins finish their preseason schedule at an even 4-4.

What Comes Next:
Well warmed up by their trip through Texas, the Bruins begin Northwest Conference play at home against Pacific on Saturday.