Six-run eighth lifts Bulldogs to series opening 10-7 victory
CANEY BAY — Thomasville capitalized on three Brantley County errors in the eighth inning paving the way for a sixrun uprising here Tuesday to take the Region 1-A series opener 10-7.
The Herons (9-12 overall, 4-6 region) battled back from a 4-1 deficit scoring twice in the sixth and one in the seven to force extra innings against the Bulldogs (13-9, 7-3).
BCHS, trailing 4-3 entering the home half of the seventh, tied the game with two outs on an error. Kaden Hendrix worked a one-out walk with Carson Coger following two batters later with a two-out free pass.
The pair pulled off a double steal on a 1-0 pitch with the throw from the Thomasville catcher sailing into left field allowing Hendrix to race home tying the game at 4apiece.
Thomasville’s inning was set up by three errors in the first five batters. A one-out, run-scoring single followed the first two miscues giving the visitors the lead for good at 5-4.
The third fielding error allowed the second run to cross. A second run-scoring single, a run-scoring fielder’s choice, a wild pitch and a final run-scoring single followed in sequence extending the lead to 10-4.
The Herons fought back plating three runs and brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the inning before the third out was recorded.
Eli Thomas (2-for-3) led off the home half of the frame with a double with Eli Nielson (2-for-3) following one pitch later with a run-scoring single to climb to within 10-5. A two-out error on a ball off the bat of Cain Roberson (1-for-5) kept the inning alive.
Gavin Grafford, who reached on a fielder’s choice during the first out, and Roberson both moved into scoring position ahead of Hendrix’s ground ball being misplayed with each scoring on the play cutting the deficit to 10-7.
Jackson Rowell (2-for-4) followed with an 11-pitch walk after fouling off three consecutive 3-2 pitches before the final out of the game was recorded giving Thomasville the series opening victory.
BCHS dented the plate first with a second inning run. Rowell led off with a single and moved to second on Dennis Raulerson’s (1-for-4) one-out base hit. Nielson’s first-pitch, two-out single to right drove in Rowell for a 1-0 lead.
Thomasville grabbed its first lead with a two-run fourth against Grafford (5 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 7 K, 5 BB) on a sacrifice fly and ensuing two-out, run-scoring single.
The Bulldogs scored once in the fifth to build a 3-1 advantage scoring on a two-out single after loading the bases on three walks.
The visitors tacked on run in the sixth against Rylee Young (2.1 IP, 3 H, 6 R, 0 ER, 1 K, 0 BB) extending the lead to 4-1 with the run scoring on a two-out theft of home.
The Herons scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to get to within 4-3. Rowell roped a first-pitch double to start the frame and moved to third on a passed ball.
A walk to Coger and a passed ball advanced him to second. Thomas came through with a one-out single scoring both runners cutting the deficit to one. Thomas would eventually be stranded after swiping second and third base.
