Dylan Todd’s 111’th pitch of the day on Thursday was a called strike three that finished off Elkins 8-4 in a game played at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.
Before the final inning at the home of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, the AA team of the Kansas City Royals, Todd had struck out just two hitters. He fanned three in the seventh, as he had done about 24 hours earlier to finish off Paris.
Todd allowed 10 hits and four runs, two of which were earned, to move to 2-2 on the season.
The Bearcats (10-6) never trailed in the game. Rhett Nietert led off the game with a double to deep left. Nietert moved to third on a bunt by Todd and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jace Washburn.
Elkins recorded four hits in the bottom of the second to tie it – Parker Smith threw out a runner trying to advance on a ball in the dirt – but the Bearcats would retake the lead in the third.
Cutler Haller started the third with a single and walks by Clint Osborne and Nietert filled the bases. After a strikeout Washburn bounced into a fielder’s choice to score the go-ahead run.
Casey Carter (2-for-4) got an infield hit for a run and Hayden Daniel singled home another to make it 4-1. After a Sadler Miller single reloaded the bases Smith grounded to short and a fielder’s choice throwing error plated two more runs and a 6-1 lead.
Elkins got two runs back in the home half of the third with a triple, a Bearcat error, a walk, and a two-out single.
It stayed 6-3 until the sixth inning as Todd and an Elk reliever were both able to strand runners in scoring position in both the fourth and fifth innings.
Osborne singled with one down in the sixth and moved to second when Nietert walked for the third time. With two down Washburn (2-for-3) singled up the middle and when the ball was bobbled, Osborne came home to make it 7-3.
Osborne (2-for-3) singled again in the seventh to score Daniel, who had been hit by a pitch, moved to second on Miller’s sacrifice bunt – the Bearcats had three of them on the day – and it was 8-3.
Consecutive singles started the Elkins last at bat and after a strikeout an error got a run home, but Todd struck out the next two to close it out.
This week the Bearcats are scheduled to visit Hackett Monday, host Scranton for Senior Day on Tuesday, and travel to Fort Smith Northside Thursday.
TODD, BEARCATS TOP ELKINS AT ARVEST BALLPARK
