The 1973 Season
While not putting up the same lofty record that they did in 1972, the 1973 Tigers still finished the regular season at an impressive 27 wins to 14 losses. This was once again good enough to clinch a berth in the NCAA District 6 playoff tournament. The tournament consisted of Trinity, Arkansas, and two familiar opponents, Pan American and Texas. The Tigers took on the Arkansas Razorbacks in the first game of the tournament at Turnpike Stadium in Arlington, and behind junior pitcher Mike Bacsik the Tigers picked up an emphatic victory, winning 6 to 0. The Razorbacks were limited to just one hit, and Trinity had momentum entering their second game the next day against Texas. The game was close for four innings, but when the normally top-notch pitching staff of the Tigers collapsed, the Longhorns took advantage, leading to a 17 to 2 victory for Texas. With all momentum lost and their season on the line, the Tigers then squared off against Pan American in an elimination game. The winner would have a chance at playing Texas with a spot in the College World series on the line. The rivals took part in a thrilling back and forth game, that ended up going into extra innings tied at three. Pan American took the lead in the eleventh after a one out triple was followed up by a squeeze bunt play. According to the Trinitonian, the bunt appeared to be rolling foul when it was picked up by Tiger first baseman Tommy Crumrine, giving Pan American the lead. The Tigers could not muster an offense in the bottom of the eleventh, losing the game and being eliminated from the playoffs in extra innings for the second straight year. Similar to the year prior, the Tigers had their chances, loading the bases in the bottom of the seventh and the ninth, but were not able to push any runs across on either occasion. The Tigers left fifteen men on base in the game, failing to convert on their chances. The pitching staff also issued eight walks, uncharacteristic of the, “previously dependable pitchers” (Trinitonian) from Trinity. Despite coming up short of the ultimate goal for a second straight year, there is no way the Tigers could be upset about their season.