Birds drop another close one 5-4 in the nightcap of the opening night of the Harrison Co. Tournament.

 

JR Bunning pitched for HHS and went 4 2/3. Strong through the 1st 3, some bumps to give up 1 in the 4th and then gave up 3 in the 5th. Key hit was a 2 out single to plate the last 2 runs. Control is a key for Bunning. When pitching ahead in the 1st 3 innings, he kept his pitch count down and EJ off the board. Some wildness in the 4th and 5th opened up some doors. Credit to EJ for knocking the door down. JR Noe pitched 1 1/3 scoreless. SR Vermeil gave up 1 in the top of the 7th.

 

Birds got 1 in the bottom of the 4th to answer EJ. 5th - 7th were the deciders.

 

5th - JR Murray and SR Allen 1st & 3rd w/ nobody out. (Can't remember how Murray got on, but Allen singled.) JR Whitford (who was 2-4 w/ several very strong ABs) bounced into a tailor made 6-4-3. Birds only get 1 run. 4-2 EJ.

 

6th - JR Mills got to 2B (not sure how -- nature calls ). Went to 3B on a K WP. Next 2 batters also struck out. Runner on 3B w/ less than 2 out. Must plate that run to get within 1.

 

7th - JR Ball pinch hit for JR Veneman and drew a walk. JR Veneman re-entered to run for Ball. JR Murray walked. SR Allen (2-4) singled. Bases loaded. 0 out.

 

JR Whitford singled. Runners had to hold to make sure ball would drop. 5-3 EJ. Bases still loaded. 0 out.

JR Ramey hits SF deep enough to score Murray and for all other runners to advance . 5-4 EJ. 1 out.

EJ gives IBB to JR Mills to load the bases.

With an 0-1 count, suicide squeeze goes wrong. JR Martin has little chance on a high and outside pitch (may have been a pitchout if the P saw runner breaking from 3B, but didn't seem like it and no reaction from EJ to that effect. Likely just fortunately wild for EJ) and SR Allen is hung out. 5-4 EJ. 2 out. Runners on 2B & 3B. Strikeout to end the game.

 

Birds are doing some tough learning, but getting better. 2 out hits were critical in this game -- not unusual. Date with Tates Creek on SAT at 12:45 in Harrison Co. Should be a doozy.

Sounds like an exciting finish to the game.