A four-run third inning proved more than enough to help Walnut Grove even the Class 4A first round playoff series Tuesday afternoon with Ware County winning Game 2 of the doubleheader 6-1.
Region 8 third-seed Warriors (21-10) followed a 3-1 loss in the April 22 opener with the victory over the Region 1 runnerup Gators (19-12) forcing an “if” game.
Walnut Grove’s Gary Staffins silenced the Gators’ bats tossing a complete game two-hitter. He fanned nine, walked one allowing only a Isaiah White (1-for-3) first-pitch, leadoff homer in the fifth.
Tanner Larisey was saddled with tough luck. He registered Ware County’s second complete game of the series working six innings. Larisey recorded five strikeouts, walked four, and hit a batter. He was charged with three earned runs.
The Warriors, who stranded a batter in the second, dented the plate with four runs in the third inning.
A hit batter and an error set the uprising up. After a passed ball moved the runners up, an ensuing two-run single broke the scoreless game.
A double followed putting runners at second and third. A sacrifice fly upped Walnut Grove’s advantage to 3-0. The runner at second stole third and scored on an error for a four-run cushion.
Landon Smallwood collected Ware County’s first hit of Game 2 leading off the fourth with a line drive single to center.
The Warriors padded their margin to 6-0 with two runs in the bottom of the inning cashing in on two walks to start the frame.
A one-out fielder’s choice moved the runners to second and third. A double steal led to the first run with the trail runner following home on an error.
The Gators cut the lead to 6-1 in the fifth when White ambushed the first pitch of the inning sending it over the fence in left. Colt Cox was left standing after drawing a two-out walk.
Collin Crawford worked a walk to start the sixth before Staffins induced an ensuing doubleplay grounder.
Slade Sweat reached on an error to start the seventh with Staffins retiring the next three batters.
