BEARCATS DROP GAME IN ALMA

The Booneville Bearcats scored two runs five times Thursday in Alma but it was a two run bottom of the seventh that won it for the Airedales, 11-10.

The Bearcats (1-1) had taken their first lead of the game in the top of the seventh when Dylan Todd opened the inning by reaching on an error and, after the second balk by an Alma pitcher, Dunn Daniel reached on an error trying to sacrifice Todd, the tying run, to third.

A bunt single by Brooks Herrera plated Todd to tie the game at 9-9 but an attempt to bunt home another run resulted in the first out.

Dax Goff singled home a go-ahead run but a couple of pop flies ended the inning with two aboard.

An error – the teams combined for eight – opened the bottom of the inning but Todd, the third Bearcat pitcher, got two fly balls, with the second moving the tying run to third.

Three straight singles, the last by Noah Likens, chased home the winning run. Likens had three RBI.

Alma had led 5-0 after a miserable first inning for the Bearcats that included a walk, two errors, and a single before Peyton Tatum recorded the first out.

Tatum (3-for-5) started the Bearcat second with a single and scored on a single by Todd. Daniel got another run home with a sacrifice fly in the to make it 5-2.

Goff tripled home Jace Washburn in the Bearcat third then scored on a ground out by Rylen Ray and the Bearcats were within 5-4.

The Airedales used three singles and a walk to pad their lead to 8-4 in the fourth and chase Tatum in favor of Matt O’Bar for his second appearance of the year.

Ray (shown rounding third) doubled and Tatum singled in the Bearcat fifth and, after Tatum stole second, O’Bar got both home with a single to make it 8-6.

O’Bar pitched around a leadoff walk in the bottom of the inning and the Bearcats would finally draw ven in the top of the sixth.

Daniel was hit by pitch to start the frame and Herrera doubled. With one down Goff took a walk to fill the bases and Ray took one to force home a run. Tatum singled off the pitcher’s glove to tie it at 8-8 but the Bearcats left the bases loaded.

The Bearcats are scheduled to play next at home on Monday against Mansfield. Alma is scheduled to make a trip to Booneville on April 14.