Kyle Thrasher was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning, allowing Buffalo Island Central to score the winning run as the Mustangs opened their 2019 baseball season with a 9-8 victory over East Poinsett County Wednesday afternoon at Monette.
EPC took advantage of BIC starter Caleb Suiter’s early control problems, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning, but the Mustangs rallied, putting a six spot on the board in the bottom of the inning to take a two-run lead.
The Warriors answered with two runs in the top of the second, tying the game at 6-6. EPC added two more runs in the top of the fourth to grab an 8-6 advantage. BIC battled back in the bottom of the sixth, plating two runs to knot the contest 8-8 heading into the decisive seventh inning.
Jameson Stone had two singles, a double and an RBI while freshman catcher Brayden Carmichael singled, doubled, drove in a pair of runs and scored twice to lead the Mustang offense. Franklin Patterson doubled home a pair of runs and scored once. Gavin Gathright singled three times, scored once and drove in a run. Kaleb Dublin had a pair of hits and scored a run while Thrasher singled, scored twice and had an RBI.
Alex Rangel had an RBI and a run scored while Suiter crossed the plate once.
Patterson picked up the win in relief, pitching a third of an inning with a strikeout. Suiter got the start, going two innings, allowing six runs, three earned. Suiter did not give up a hit while striking out five and issuing six walks. Gathright threw four and 2/3 innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits. Gathright whiffed 10 Warrior batters with no walks. Jordan Smith took the loss for EPC. Gavin Constant had two of the three Warrior base hits while Colby Moore drove in both EPC runs.
BIC played host to Rivercrest on Friday and fell 8-3 to the Colts. Rivercrest broke a scoreless tie, plating four runs in the third inning.
BIC pushed across two runs in the bottom of the frame, but the Colts came right back, scoring three runs in the top of the fourth to grab a 7-2 lead. Rivercrest got another run in the sixth before BIC pushed across a runner in the bottom of the seventh. The Colts out-hit the Mustangs 14-6.
Dublin led BIC with three singles and two runs scored. Carmichael cracked a two- run double, Suiter doubled while Stone singled. Patterson had an RBI and Rangel scored a run.
Riley Jones had three base hits and three runs scored for Rivercrest. Jace Smith and Cullom Booker added a pair of singles and two RBI apiece. Chance Brigance added a two-run double.
Joseph Cotton was the winning pitcher while Gathright took the loss.
Gathright pitched five innings, allowing seven runs, all earned.
Gathright gave up 12 hits, struck out eight and walked one. Carmichael went two innings, allowing one unearned run on two hits. The freshman lefthander fanned two and walked none.