WCHS flat vs. Falcons, falls 7-3

By ROB NUNLEY / Sports Editor for the Southern Standard

A base hit from Lincoln County’s Derrick Douglas falls just out of the reach of Jordan Underhill’s outstretched glove during the first inning of Monday night’s game at Ramsey Field. (Rob Nunley photo)

After getting back on the winning track in district play Sunday, the Pioneers suffered a tough loss Monday night, falling to the visiting Lincoln County Falcons 7-3 at Ramsey Field.

Two-out production was the theme of the night, as all 10 runs scored in the contest came with two out in their respective innings.

Pioneer starter Landon Boren got the Falcons’ first two batters to pop up to first, but Derrick Douglas came through with a triple on a ball that fell just out of reach of WCHS right fielder Jordan Underhill, and D.J. Boggs put LCHS on the board with a single to left. Heath Sharp followed with a two-run double, and the Falcons led 3-0.

Warren County’s Jordan Powers walked with one out in the bottom of the fourth, moving to second on a Coty Grissom sacrifice and taking third on a wile pitch. Boren walked with two outs, and courtesy runner Steven Ehrhardt stole second, drawing a wild throw from Sharp which allowed Powers to come home with the Pioneers’ first run.

In the top of the sixth, however, the Falcons once again came through in the clutch.

A one-out double from Boggs started the inning, and Sharp blooped a Texas-leaguer into right. Dakota Gardner popped up to shortstop for the inning’s second out, but a walk by Adam Curtis loaded the bases, and No. 9 hitter Matt King belted a two-run single down the left-field line, expanding the LCHS lead to 5-1.

Warren County answered in the bottom of the frame, when Jacob Bratcher smacked a two-out, two-run hit to left, scoring Underhill and Powers.

LCHS put the game away in the top of the seventh, with Sharp driving home Douglas on a slow grounder to second, and Eric Oxley scoring on a wild pitch.

Colby Killian singled to start the Pioneer half of the seventh, and Dylan Stephens was hit by a pitch, but Underhill grounded out to third and Powers was fanned on three straight pitches by Douglas, who had come on in relief with two out in the sixth.

Boren worked 6-2/3 innings, allowing nine hits while walking five batters, hitting one and striking out four. Jared Qualls came on to record the final Lincoln County out.

Killian had the Pioneers’ only multi-hit game, going 2-for-4. The team’s other hits came from Jacob Bratcher, Tyler Herriman, Todd Gilley and Powers. Sharp finished 3-for-4 for LCHS, while Boggs had a pair of hits.

Sunday afternoon in Murfreesboro, the Pioneers held on to salvage a split in their weekend District 7-AAA series, topping Blackman 3-2.

Josh Bratcher and Underhill both scored with two outs in the second inning, with Bratcher coming in on an error and Underhill on a Powers single to give WCHS a quick 2-0 lead.

With one out in the fourth, Josh Bratcher singled and scored for a 3-0 Pioneer advantage, but Blackman cut into that lead during the fifth, scoring two thanks to an error, a hit and a sacrifice fly.

Killian, who earned the complete game win, got in a bit of trouble in the seventh, giving up a walk and infield single after two straight strikeouts. But Cody Taylor grounded out to Herriman to end the threat.

Killian scattered five hits over his seven innings of work, striking out eight batters and walking four.

The Pioneers travel to Crossville on Thursday, and begin a two-day series with Cookeville at home Friday night.