Pioneers’ skid continues; losing streak hits three
The Pioneer baseball game lost its third straight Saturday, and was dealt its first shutout of the year, as it fell to visiting Tullahoma 8-0.
With the loss, the Pioneers fell to 15-13 overall. Tullahoma improved to 19-16.
The game marked the final regular season home outing for Warren County’s seven seniors. Pitchers Nicholas Robinson and Ryan Vincion, as well as Daniel Owens, Nathan Cantrell, Scott Dunham, Jake Mitchell and Zach Pelham were recognized with their parents prior to the game.
Owens, Dunham and Pelham accounted for all five of the Pioneers’ base hits, as Owens went 2-for-3 and his classmates finished with a hit each. But for the second straight game WCHS couldn’t come up with the hits when it needed them, and stranded seven runners on base during the game.
Wesley Pess went the distance for the Wildcats, fanning two Pioneer batters and walking just one on his way to the win.
Robinson took the loss for the Pioneers, allowing 10 hits and five runs over the game’s first five innings. Landon Boren pitched the game’s final two innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits.
Leadoff man Matt Carter was the biggest weapon in Tullahoma’s offensive arsenal, finishing 4-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Carter singled to lead off the game and scored on a Mark Chaney sacrifice fly, and Tullahoma took a 2-0 lead in the third when Josh Wood doubled and scored on a Kevin Fuhrman hit. Chaney doubled to start the fifth, coming home on a single from Tripp Hess to give the visitors a 3-0 edge.
The Wildcats widened the gap in the sixth, scoring four runs on five hits, including a two-run double from Carter on the first pitch he saw from Boren.
Hess was 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs, and three other Wildcats finished with two hits apiece.
Warriors 11
Pioneers 1
MURFREESBORO — District-leading Riverdale leapt out to an early lead and never looked back Thursday.
The (25-4, 9-1 in District 7-AAA) Warriors plated a pair of runs in the first, another in the second, three more in the third, and five in the fifth to send the Pioneers home from “The Reservation” early via the 10-run mercy rule.
Joey Haston took the loss on the mound for WCHS, allowing six runs (four earned) and five hits through four innings of work. Colby Jenkins pitched the fifth inning, allowing one earned run on four hits and a pair of walks.
Glenn Rogers, Mitchell, Dunham and Owens had the Pioneers’ only hits, and Chase McGee, running for Owens in the top of the fifth, scored Warren County’s only run.
Riverdale’s nine-hit night was highlighted by catcher Alex Watson, who finished 3-for-3 with three RBIs.
The Pioneers, who fell to 5-5 in district play with Thursday’s loss, wrap up their 7-AAA schedule this week with road games at Blackman Monday and at White County on Tuesday. The district tournament is slated to begin Thursday.