The Redbirds (40+) unleashed a fifth-inning offensive barrage to overpower the Bisons 13-5 on Wednesday night at The Parks at Texas Star, breaking open a back-and-forth game with a seven-run eruption that left the home crowd roaring. Mark Tierney was the spark plug, notching two hits—including a crucial RBI single during the momentum-shifting frame—and finishing with two hits, a run, and an RBI.
The Bisons drew first blood in the opening inning when Zack Barnard ripped a double to score a run. After an early error allowed the Redbirds to tie the game in the second, the Bisons retook the lead on a single by Tom Bevins in the third.
But the Redbirds refused to be rattled. With the score 3-1 entering the fifth, they uncorked an offensive storm. Tierney drove in the first of seven runs with a base hit, Chris Cec followed with an RBI single of his own, and Lester Bedford kept it rolling with another run-scoring knock. Juan Mollinedo’s two-run single brought the dugout to life, and Jerry Anderson capped the rally with a two-RBI single to bust it wide open.
Troy Key earned the win, tossing five solid innings while allowing six hits and five runs—only three earned—and striking out two. Brent Smerczynski came on in relief and was sharp, striking out two in two scoreless innings.
The Redbirds finished with 14 hits on the night. Tierney, Anderson, Cec, Mollinedo, Kevin Fought, and Dustin Harrison each collected two hits, while Harrison also tripled and knocked in two runs. Jason New swiped two bags as part of a seven-steal night for the Redbirds, who also executed crisp defense with a double play and zero errors in the field.
It was a complete team effort, but Tierney’s clutch contact and presence in the pivotal fifth inning earned him Player of the Game honors. The Redbirds will now look to carry their offensive firepower on the road next Wednesday when they face the Tigers.
