Partida, Hurst lead Pearland past Atascocita 6-5

May 23, 2025

Very rarely does one player write the script of a game from the first pitch to the final pitch but that is exactly what All-Stater Nico Partida did against the Atascocita Eagles in the first game of a best-of-three series with the winner advancing to the 6A Div I state baseball tournament.

And don't forget senior centerfielder Walker Hurst who added the exclamation point in the top of the fifth inning when the Oilers were trailing 5-4.

Senior Logan Johnson opened the fifth frame with a walk. Pinch runner Pickett took his place on the first base bag to run for Johnson.

After Pickett drew five consecutive pickoff attempts by Atascocita starting pitcher Jaxon McKnight, the next pitch that was directed to Hurst who lifted the ball over the left field wall at the Darryl and Lori Schroeder Park on the UH campus for a two-run homer to give Pearland a 6-5 lead and eventually the win.

Partida made his presence felt on the first pitch of the game when he smashed a McKnight fast ball to right field for a triple. Junior second baseman Aidan Avalos took the first pitch he saw to right field to score Partida for a quick 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the first, Atascocita got two straight singles after the leadoff batter ground out.

With two outs, a pop fly to the outfield was mishandled by the Oilers and both runners scored giving the Eagles a 2-1 lead.

Three more singles followed for the Eagles while two more runs crossed the plate for a 4-1 lead before Pearland was able to get the ninth batter to fly out to left field.

The Oilers managed to close the gap to 4-3 in the top of the second when Partida struck again, this time with a one-out single to centerfield to send Hayden Mireles and Hunter Golden across the pay station while Pickett, who was running for senior catcher Cade Adams, advanced to third. Mireles and Golden had both reached base on singles.

Pearland tied the game at 4-4 when Pickett scored from third on an attempted pickoff at first base that was mishandled.

Atascocita added a run in the fourth to take the lead 5-4 until the two-run blast by Hurst in the fifth to give the Oilers the 6-5 victory.

The Eagles threatened in the seventh after Pearland relief pitcher Brady Brewer got the first two batters to fly out and ground out on one pitch each.

The next batter singled and Brewer walked another batter putting the game-winning run on first base.

Pearland head coach David Rogers inserted Partida on the mound with two outs and the All-State pitcher threw three straight strikes to retire the side and end the game for the Oilers.

Partida was the leading hitter for Pearland going 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Avalos was 2-for-4 with one RBI. Hurst was 1-for-3 with a run scored and two RBIs. Mireles was 1-for-3 with a run scored. Golden was 1-for-3 with a run scored.

Game 2 of the best-of-three series will be on Saturday, May 24 at 4:00 p.m. Game 3 (if needed) will follow at the Darryl and Lori Schroeder Park on the UH campus.