The San Antonio Missions got two timely home runs from left fielder Tyler Saladino to lead to a 5-3 win over the Nashville Sounds Saturday night in San Antonio.

The home runs from Saladino came in the second inning to give San Antonio a 2-1 lead, and again in the seventh inning to give them some breathing room at 3-1.

Nashville got on the board first when Andy Ibanez belted a solo homer to left-center field in the top of the second inning. It was the first home run of the season for Ibanez who extended his hitting streak to seven games.

Moments after the Ibanez long ball, Saladino came to the dish with Cory Spangenburg on first and drilled a two-run home run to give the Missions a 2-1 lead.

It stayed 2-1 until the seventh inning as both starting pitchers dialed in. Nashville’s Phillips Valdez allowed the home run but nothing the rest of his outing. He went 4 2/3 innings as he continued to build his pitch count. San Antonio’s Burch Smith allowed the solo shot to Ibanez and that’s it. He limited the Sounds to one run over six innings of work.

With the Sounds trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh, Saladino came to the plate and hit a solo shot off reliever Tim Dillard to give San Antonio an insurance run. Jake Hager later singled, Corey Ray was hit by a pitch, and Keston Hiura made both hurt with a two-run double down the right field line to make it 5-2.

The Sounds put together a mini rally in the ninth, but it wasn’t enough. Shortstop Eli White started the top of the inning with a sharp single up the middle. Willie Calhoun followed and ripped a double to right field. It chased White around from first to trim the deficit to 5-3. That was as close as it would get as Nolan Fontana’s two-out fly ball was caught on the warning track to end the threat.

Valdez was charged with the loss, his first of the season. Jose Trevino was the lone Sound with a multi-hit game.

Game three of the four-game series is scheduled for Sunday afternoon in San Antonio. Left-hander Taylor Hearn (1-1, 4.50) starts for the Sounds against right-hander Adrian Houser (0-0, 0.00) for the Missions. First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 p.m.

Post-Game Notes

– With tonight’s 5-3 loss, the Sounds dropped to 3-7 on the season.

– Andy Ibanez extended his hitting streak to a team-best seven games when he homered in the second inning. It was the first home run of the season for Ibanez.

– Willie Calhoun’s ninth inning double extended his on-base streak to 10 games. He has reached safely in every game of the season.

The 2019 season is the 42nd in Nashville Sounds franchise history and first as the Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. Single-game tickets are available now by calling (615) 690-4487 or by visiting www.nashvillesounds.com.

Ropapa Mensah of Nashville SC

Nearly an hour and twenty minutes after its scheduled kickoff time, the highly anticipated rivalry match between Nashville SC and Memphis 901 FC at First Tennessee Park on Saturday night ended in a 2-0 shutout victory for the home side, marking Nashville’s third clean sheet of the year. Matt LaGrassa and Ropapa Mensah provided the lightning late with each of their first goals of the season.

Daniel Ríos almost found the first goal of the night in the 15’ minute after he and Darnell King seamlessly connected in the final third. King’s well-placed pass helped set Rios up to beat his defender with a simple touch, but the striker’s shot sailed wide left.

A signature Tucker Hume header forced Memphis goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell to make a diving save near the end of the first half. The keeper’s deflection of Hume’s attempt resulted in a corner that Nashville could not put away.

Nashville SC carried its relentless attack into the second half. Kharlton Belmar looked to capitalize on another NSC corner in the 54’ minute, launching a shot that was barely over the frame. LaGrassa finally opened the floodgates in the 78’ minute when he willed his way through the box to put away the first goal of the night. Within three minutes, Mensah followed up with a goal of his own to lock in Nashville’s 2-0 rivalry win over Memphis.

Three Takeaways

When It Rains it Pours

Nashville SC’s attack has found its rhythm. Tonight, the team netted two goals in three minutes to lock in its second clean sheet victory in a row. NSC has seen back-to-back matches with double-digit shots on goal with 15 total shots against Ottawa Fury FC last week and 21 tonight. Not only were Nashville’s shots abundant, but they were wide spread with nine different Nashville SC players taking a shot.

LaGrassa Marks One Year With Goal

Midfielder Matt LaGrassa celebrated one calendar year of appearing in every Nashville SC game with his first goal of 2019. Since joining NSC, LaGrassa has not appeared in just one competitive game.

Shutout Show

All three of Nashville’s wins in 2019 have been clean sheets with two coming at home against Loudon United FC and Memphis 901 FC, and one on the road against Ottawa Fury FC. The backline kept Memphis to just six shots on goal tonight, allowing only one of those shots on target. Matt Pickens has been scarcely tested this season, making his save in the 48’ his sixth save out of seven shots faced this season.

Up Next

Nashville SC kicks off a three-game road stretch next weekend at the Charleston Battery. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, April 20.

Abby Morgan signs her scholarship papers surrounded by coaches and family. Seated, left to right: Amy Morgan, mom; Abby Morgan; Greg Morgan, dad; Bailey Morgan, sister. Back Row: Matt Ferrell, AAU coach; Scott Blum, Cumberland coach; Joe Pat Cope, Coffee County head coach; Abby Lynch, Coffee County coach, Matt Vinson, Coffee County coach

Coffee County senior basketball player Abby Morgan signed her national letter of intent with Cumberland University on Thursday at a ceremony at CHS.  Cumberland, located in Lebanon, TN, competes in the Mid-South Conference as a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).  Morgan, who played guard and wing for the Lady Raiders is expected to compete for playing time early for head coach Scott Blum.

When asked what drew her to Cumberland, Abby was quick to point out that it was close to home where her friends and family can watch her play.  “I liked the campus and the coach and the team was nice and encouraging” Morgan added when talking about her visit.

Red Raider coach Joe Pat Cope was effusive in his praise for Morgan saying “her game has not one weakness.  Abby has every aspect of the game; she sees the floor exceptionally well.”  Cope went on the say that Morgan was a phenomenal leader and that will carry over into her college career.  “With her work ethic and the fact that she hates to lose, she will be a leader on and off the floor at Cumberland.”

Briggs Haithcock of CHS soccer

The Coffee County CHS soccer team welcomed district rival Shelbyville to the Raider Soccer Field on Thursday night.  In a match you heard here on Thunder Radio, the 2 teams combined for a thrilling contest that was not decided until the final seconds.  Shelbyville defended a Coffee County corner kick as time expired to escape with a 2 to 1 win.

Shelbyville got on the board first in the 26^th minute as they pushed a rush past Coffee County keeper Kix Ferrell to take a 1 nil lead into the half.  In the second half, Briggs Haithcock leveled the match with a header on a feed from Leo Suarez in the 44^th minute.   Shelbyville retook the lead in the 63^rd on a penalty kick after it appeared Coffee County was going to repel an Eagle charge.  With mere seconds on the clock in the match, Coffee County had their final chance on a corner kick.  The feed to the front of the net found Briggs Haithcock but his headed was deflected away to give Shelbyville the hard fought win.

The Red Raiders return to action on Tuesday night as they welcome Columbia to the Raider Soccer Field.  That match will kick off at 7 PM.  Coach Robert Harper will be a guest on Saturday’s Coffee Coaches Show to talk about the season.  The Coffee Coaches Show is broadcast live each Saturday morning from 10 AM to 11 AM from the showroom of Al White Ford/Lincoln.  The Coffee Coaches Show is heard exclusively here on Thunder Radio.

Download the broadcast at: http://www.thunder1320.com/downloads/

Jacob Holder of CCMS Baseball[File Photo]

Coffee County got 17 hits in the game and got the benefit of 3 Harris errors to grab the win.  Holder was efficient in throwing all 5 innings with only 76 pitches.  Holder had 10 strikeouts and was 2 walks away from a perfect game.  At the plate, Holder had 2 doubles and 2 singles while driving in 3 runs.  Nolan Jernigan had a single and a double and drove in 2 runs.  Hayden Garr also had a single and a double and scored 3 times.

The Red Raiders return to the diamond on Monday as they travel to Tullahoma.  First pitch is set for 5 PM at Waggoner Park.

Lauren Perry of CHS tennis 2019[Photo courtesy of Janice Talley]

The Lady Raiders got singles wins by Lauren Perry(8 -3), Natalie Elzeer(8-5), Wren Lawson(8-1), Kylie Millaway(8-5) and Emma Fulks(9-8).  In doubles play, the team of Elzeer/Lawson won 8 to 3 and the team of Perry/Fulks won 8 to 1.

The Red Raiders got singles wins from Benedict Edinger(8-0), Jaden Talley(8-5), Jonah Rollman(9-7) Johnathan Welch(8-0) and Landon Booth(8-0).  In doubles play, Edinger and Talley teamed up for an 8 to 5 win while the team of Rollman and Welch got an 8 to 4 victory.

The Raider netters return to the court on Friday when they host Tullahoma.  First serve is set for 4 PM at the Raider Academy courts.