Pioneer problems at plate continue against Riverdale
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Struggling at the plate in both contests against the Riverdale Warriors, Warren County was clipped at home Tuesday night, losing 1-0, and made the road trip to Murfreesboro Wednesday only to be drop-kicked back home after a 15-1, five-inning shellacking.
With the losses the Pioneers dropped to 1-3 on the year, and 0-2 in district play.
Senior Josh Mullins battled Riverdale senior Austin Hurt in Tuesday’s opener in a true pitchers’ duel, with the Warriors’ only run ‘ and what would prove to be the only run of the game ‘ coming on a bizarre play in the top of the third.
With two out after a strikeout of Richie Pearl and a catcher-to-first pickoff of Cole Radabaugh, Mullins surrendered a single to leadoff batter Corey Crunk, who advanced to third when Mullins threw away a bunt attempt by Axel Watson. Watson took off for second on the play, and while caught in a pickle between first and second base Crunk was able to come in to score.
The Pioneers had a chance to get the run back when Lane McCoy belted a one-out triple in the bottom of the frame, but two straight ground balls retired the side, and Hurt went on to fan the next five men he faced on the way to a 10-strikeout three-hitter. Warren County’s hits came from McCoy, Kyle Mullican and Casey Talbert.
Mullins allowed just four hits and struck out five, while giving up two walks and hitting two batters.
Wednesday’s game at Murfreesboro saw much more offense ‘ but only on the Warriors’ side of the ledger.
Going up against the Pioneers’ Tyler Gilley, Riverdale struck for three runs with two out in the bottom of the first, as six straight batters reached base.
Warren County’s only run of the series came in the second, when Justin Bouldin doubled and came home on a Mark Harvey grounder, but the Warriors answered with a single run in the bottom of the inning, again scoring on a double steal as Corey Crunk came home while Jake Francis swiped second.
The floodgates opened after that, with Riverdale connecting for eight runs on eight hits in the third, including two-run singles by Watson and Josh Brawley. The Pioneers went quietly in the top of the fourth, and in the bottom of the inning Riverdale added three more runs, more than enough to end the game via the 10-run, fifth-inning mercy rule as WCHS went down in order in the top of the fifth.
Bouldin, Darrid Wells and McCoy had the Pioneers’ only hits in Wednesday’s game, while Gilley and Andy Southard saw action on the mound, allowing nine and six runs respectively.
The Pioneers will try to right their ship this weekend at Franklin County’s tournament, which begins today. WCHS will be playing at Coffee County High today, taking on the Red Raiders at 11 a.m. and Grayville, Ill., at 1:30. Saturday’s Pioneer games will be played at Lincoln County High School in Fayetteville, where Warren County will face the Falcons at 11 a.m. and Marshall County at 1:30.