BEARCATS WIN IN 11 INNINGS FRIDAY

It took almost four hours and contributions from the entire lineup – all nine positions scored and or drove in a run – but the Bearcats pulled out an 11-inning, 9-8 win in Danville Friday night.

Freshman Jace Washburn might have been hitless on the day but he left a huge mark in the top of the 11th. Washburn came to the plate with one down and runners on the corners.

Peyton Tatum was at third after reaching on a Little John error that was good for two bases, then stealing third. Casey Mattson came on to run for Matt O’Bar after he was hit by a pitch.

After Mattson swiped second Washburn put down a perfectly placed bunt that took long enough to field, even with a drawn in infield, for Tatum to beat a throw home while Mattson to reached third.

Blazen Jones followed with a single off a still drawn in infielder’s glove and Mattson scored to make it 9-7.

Driving in the eventual winner was not Jones' first clutch delivery. The senior left fielder made an incredible diving catch to end the bottom of the eighth inning when the Little Johns had the potential winning run at second.

The Bearcats owned the entire outfield. Brooks Herrera tracked down a deep fly with two down in the bottom of the 10th to strand three Little Johns. He also made a juggling catch to record the second out of the frame as well.

With the Bearcats in front for the bottom of the 11th, Tatum ranged to his right to track down a ground ball for the first out and after the Little Johns got a run back on a ground out Tatum recorded the final out of the game on another ground ball.

The Bearcats played error free baseball.

That made a winner out of Dax Goff (2-0) who had thrown five and two-thirds innings of relief. He allowed just one run on two hits and struck out four over 69 pitches.

Herrera had drawn the start and handled the first five and a third innings in which he allowed three hits but was victimized by eight walks.

The Bearcats (9-3, 3-1 Conference 3A-4 South) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first. Herrera (shown ready to advance from first) walked and scored on a single by Goff.

Goff, who had two hits, stole second and moved to third on a balk, then scored on a Tatum single.

Danville’s first three hitters reached in the bottom of the inning with the game tied before an out was recorded but Herrera got a strikeout, fly out, and another strikeout to keep it tied.

The Bearcats stretched the lead to 6-2 against a Danville reliever in the second. An error plated the first run, Ry Ray singled for one of his two hits to score Dylan Todd, who also reached on an error, and back-to-back two out singles by Dunn Daniel – one of his two on the day—and O’Bar made it 6-2.

Jones walked leading off the third and would later score on a wild pitch to give the Bearcats a 7-2 lead.

A ground ball, a single, and a balk allowed Danville to get within 7-5 in the bottom of the third.

A leadoff walk scored for Danville in fifth with a fly ball driving in the run after a squeeze attempt went awry and Ray ran down a runner at third.

Danville would tie it in the sixth on another sacrifice fly which came on a safe call after a perfectly executed relay started by Herrera.

The Bearcats got runners to third base in the eighth and ninth innings against the third Danville pitcher, who came on after the starter, who returned in the third inning and reached the Arkansas Activities Association’s pitch count limit.

The Bearcats are scheduled to return to action Tuesday against Waldron at the Billy Kiersey Baseball/Softball Complex.