WASHBURN THROWS TWO HIT SHUTOUT, HALLER DRIVES IN ONLY RUN OF 1-0 WIN

Jace Washburn fired a two-hit shutout and Cutler Haller singled twice and drove in the only run in a 1-0 Conference 3A-4 win over Lavaca at the Billy Kiersey Complex Tuesday.

Washburn (4-2) allowed just two hits, walked two, and struck out seven. He threw just 86 pitches and faced just 24 hitters on the day as the Bearcats (7-4, 3-1) started a series of five games, including four conference games, over eight days.

In the third inning of a scoreless game, a leadoff double and a wild pitch had a Lavaca runner 90-feet from scoring.

Washburn induced a ground ball to Rhett Nietert at shortstop who threw to Parker Smith for an out at the plate (shown) and Lavaca got only one more runner into scoring position.

That came in the fifth when a walk, then a passed ball got the leadoff hitter to second. After a pair of strikeouts Washburn issued his second walk, but left both with this third strikeout of the frame.

A leadoff single in the sixth was erased when a bunt attempt came straight to Washburn and he threw to Jeremiah Shaw at first to complete a double play.

The Bearcats had the first two runners aboard in their first but a soft liner was dropped and became a double play.

An inning later two errors and a Smith single loaded the bases with one down but a strikeout and a fly ball got the Golden Arrow pitcher out of the inning.

The Bearcats finally broke through in the third when Casey Carter worked a walk with two down and Hayden Daniel, on the eighth pitch of his at bat, delivered an infield single that was smothered at shortstop setting up Haller, who singled to left to score Carter.

The Lavaca hurler, who threw just 94 pitches, would set down the next eight, only to have Haller single again in the sixth but the Bearcats could not move pinch runner Tayden Washburn.

Up next for the Bearcats is a home game with Waldron on Thursday before a conference game at Charleston on Friday.