Dylan Todd struck out nine and got the win in his first career start and the Booneville Bearcats emerged from a two week break with a 12-2 Conference 3A-4 pounding of Hackett Tuesday.
Now 2-0 in 3A-4 play, the Bearcats scored in every inning with Rylen Ray leading the way with a 3-4 day and three runs batted in.
Ray got his first RBI in the top of the first, driving in Dax Goff who had tripled with two down. It was Goff’s third triple of the year.
Hackett turned an infield single and a throwing error into tying and go-ahead run in the bottom of the inning but it was all Bearcats after that.
Hackett actually helped the Bearcats out too. A three run second inning began with Noah Harrel reaching on an error, moving to second on a pickoff throwing error, then scoring when Parker Smith (shown) beat out a bunt that included a third throwing error of the inning.
After Casey Carter was retired on a sacrifice bunt Conner Lentz doubled home a run for the lead. The fourth error of the inning allowed Todd to reach and Lentz to score for a 4-2 lead.
Hackett threatened in their second as a single, a walk, and a sacrifice bunt had two in scoring position with one out, but Todd struck out the next two Hornets to finish the inning.
The second inning walk would be the only one Todd allowed.
Ray and Matt O’Bar started the Bearcat third with consecutive hits, and with one out Smith doubled both home to make it 6-2.
Goff scored to make it 7-2 in the fourth. He walked, stole second, moved to third on a ground out, and scored on a wild pitch.
Todd allowed two hits in the Hackett fourth but got out of it again with consecutive strikeouts.
The Bearcats extended the lead to 12-2 in the fifth, scoring five times on just one hit.
Two walks and two hit batters – the Hornet reliever hit four – scored the first run with Todd getting the RBI. Goff was hit to drive in another run and a single by Ray scored two for an 11-2 lead. An O’Bar ground out scored the 12th run.
Rhett Nietert then took over for Todd, who threw 84 pitches. Nietert, who matched Todd with his sixth appearance, allowed one hit but induced three fly ball outs to close it out.
The Bearcats are set to host Charleston on Thursday.
