RAY, GOFF BOTH HOMER, COMBINE FOR 7 RBI

Rylen Ray hit a two run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to break a 7-7 tie and the Booneville Bearcats hung on to beat Alma 9-8 at the Billy Kiersey Baseball/Softball Complex Thursday.

Ray's second home run of the week and fourth of the year came after a disastrous top of the sixth inning in which the Bearcat committed four errors and Alma scored five times to tie the game and had a go-ahead run at second base.

Matt O’Bar (2-0) got a ground ball to Ray at second to finally end the inning.

Before that inning freshman Jace Washburn (shown at the plate) had been in command, allowing just two runs and throwing just 65 pitches.

The first three Airedales reached to start the inning via walk, single, and error and it was 7-3 but Washburn got a strike out and a ground out that scored a run. He was lifted after another walk brought the tying run to the plate.

The two error play that produced the first run was the first miscue for the Bearcats in 22 innings.

O’Bar allowed two base hits, one being of the infield variety and both that also featured errors, one fielding and one throwing, allowing the tying run to score and leave Washburn with a no decision.

After a strikeout started the Bearcat sixth Brooks Herrera (3-for-4) put down a perfectly placed bunt and beat it for a single and Ray drilled the next pitch just over the center field fence.

Herrera then came on to save it and got the leadoff batter before allowing three straight hits that scored one run but a would be tying run was cut down in a rundown after straying too far from third.

Herrera got a ground ball to Washburn to finally finish it.

The Bearcats (11-3) and Airedales also played a one-run game Alma on March 3.

Alma had taken a 1-0 lead on a solo home run in the second inning but the Bearcats used the long ball to take the lead in the third.

Herrera had singled with one down and stole second and third while Ray worked a walk. Ray stole second as well and when the throw went into center field Herrera scored to tie the game.

Dax Goff followed with a two run home run, his third of the year, to make it 3-1. Goff (3-for-4) wasn’t finished.

Washburn and Dylan Todd both singled in the Bearcat fourth and were aboard with two down when Herrera singled to score a run to make it 4-1.

Ray followed with a run scoring single for his first of a three RBI day and Goff followed with a double to score two and give him a four RBI day and make it 7-1.

Alma pushed across a run in the fifth on a two out single to make it 7-2.

The Bearcats will complete 3A-4 South play today by hosting Cossatot River. A win clinches a share of the division.