Avenging a loss at home earlier this season, the Booneville Bearcats got offensive production from every position in the lineup and blasted Prairie Grove 18-4 on the road Thursday.
There were both eight- and seven-run innings in the 16-hit attack for the Bearcats in support Rhett Nietert (2-2) who threw 98 pitches in a complete game win, allowing seven hits and one walk.
Nietert also led off the game with a drive to the fence for a double (shown). He finished 2-fo-4 with a two-run single and drove in another run with a ground out.
Hitting second, Dylan Todd was also 2-for-4 with a double down the left field line, and drove in four runs, including Nietert on a ground out for the first run of the day.
Third in the order, Dax Goff hit his fourth home run of the season in the third, a three run shot that broke a 2-2 tie. He later added an infield single and was 2-for-5.
Cleanup hitter Rylen Ray was 2-for-5 and behind him Jace Washburn was 3-for-5 with an RBI.
Matt O’Bar was 2-for-4. O’Bar bunted twice and reached both times, one going for a single and an RBI and the other resulting in two runs when the ball was thrown up the right field line for a three base error.
Parker Smith was 1-for-3 but the one hit was a big one, a solo homerun in the second inning, first first, that made it a 2-0 game.
Casey Carter was the designated hitter spot and also had a hit in three official at bats.
When Noah Harrel, who was playing center with Carter hitting for him, replaced Carter on the base paths, he scored a run, and later double home a run and scored a second time – one of six Bearcats with two runs scored.
Although he was officially 0-for-1, ninth hitting Conner Lentz did drive in a run when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. He also put down a sacrifice bunt and scored twice.
Besides the offensive attack the Bearcats also had multiple defense highlights including a pair of line drives speared by Todd at third base and there was an out recorded when a ball deflected off of O’Bar’s glove to Ray who threw to NIetert for a 3-4-1 putout.
The Bearcats are in action again today in Paris, making up a weather postponement on March 14.
BEARCATS IN ATTACK MODE IN 18-4 WIN AT PRAIRIE GROVE
