By AARON FITZPATRICK
Blytheville Courier News
BLYTHEVILLE-Ahead 2-1 in the top of the sixth, the Blytheville Chickasaws were five outs away from posting an upset of the visiting Nettleton Raiders Tuesday in the first game of a 5A-East double header. However, the Raiders managed to plate four runs in the inning on their way to an 8-2 win over the Chicks.
Blytheville starting pitcher, Calup Hedger worked his way through five and a third innings Tuesday allowing just one unearned run over that time frame. Hedger appeared to tire in the sixth as he walked home the tying run with the bases loaded. Relief pitcher, Alex Draughn, walked the first batter he faced and then gave up a key two run double to Jordan Volner as Nettleton took a 6-2 lead into the bottom of the sixth.
Nettleton got on the board with a run in the third. Blytheville scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Draughn singled and then stole second base. Brandon Harvey's double to left field scored Draughn to tie the game. Later in the inning, Chris Pugh scored from third on a fielding error giving the Chicks a 2-1 lead.
For the game, Harvey led the Chicks going 2-3 with a double, single and an RBI. Draughn (1-2 with a run scored), Mac Connell (1-3) and Corey Chun (1-2) also collected hits for the Chicks.
The Chicks are now 4-7 on the year and 0-5 in the 5A-East. Game two's results were not available at press time. The Chicks travel to Hayti, Mo. Thursday to take on the Indians at 4 p.m.
In softball, the Blytheville Lady Chicks lost the first game of a 5A-East double header to Nettleton, 16-1, in three innings. Blytheville is 0-6 on the year and 0-5 in the 5A-East. Game two's results were not available at press time.