Base runners were plentiful — runs, not so much.
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Tri-County and Bucklin combined for 14 bases on balls and 8 hit batters during Monday’s varsity baseball game in Jamesport, but it was the Mustangs who used a walk to gain their second win of the young season, 3-2.
Bucklin broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the 8th inning, taking advantage of a lead off hit batter, one-out single and a sharply hit, 2-out single that caromed off the pitching rubber into left field. Tri-County, which left the bases loaded in the bottom of the 7th, looked to get to Bulldog pitcher Clay Coffman, who came back out in the 8th after a shaky inning of relief.
Morgan McBroom drew a walk to open Tri-County’s half of the 8th. Nathan Baker followed with a walk. A double steal put Mustang runners on second and third. Brinley Vandiver struck out swinging, the ball eluded the catcher, Vandiver was safe on the low throw to first and McBroom scored the tying run.
Still with no outs, Tayton Terry hit a fly ball to shallow center field. The Bulldog fielder ran in but dropped the ball and Baker trotted home with the winning run.
The Mustangs took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Ross Critten beat out a bunt and later stole second. Drayton Harris sacrificed him to third. McBroom laced a double to center that would have scored Critten but the run was negated when it was determined the Mustangs batted out of order. Baker singled with two outs to score Critten.
Bucklin tied the game in the second without benefit of a hit, taking advantage of 3 walks and a hit batter. Hard-throwing Connor Passig struck out 11 Mustang batters before departing after 7 innings. Harris, Kacen Jones and Brinley Vandiver combined to shut down the Bulldogs until the 8th inning. Gage Wright earned the win after facing 6 batters in the final frame.
The Mustangs flashed some glove in the victory. Baker threw out a pair of runners trying to steal second base. Garret Skinner fielded a grounder in the 6th and started a double play. Critten’s catch with one hand on the fence in center field saved at least 2 runs in the 6th. Harris, in right field, threw out a runner trying to stretch a single into a double in the 7th inning. Harris’s diving 8th inning catch saved at least one run from scoring.
The Mustangs are back in action at home on Thursday when they face East Harrison (Cainsville/Ridgeway) in a game postponed from last Tuesday. The Mustangs hit the road for the first time next Tuesday when they travel to DeKalb.