BENTON, Ark. – Early offense was the theme as the Warren and Searcy baseball teams combined for nine runs in the first inning before the Lumberjacks were able to secure a 9-4 victory Wednesday evening as a part of the FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) Tournament at Everett Field in Benton.
Top photo: Tucker McDiarmid at the plate for the Lumberjacks
By Dennen Cuthbertson
Saline River Chronicle Sports Contributor
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Searcy (0-2), members of the 5A East, began the contest with a bang with four singles and two walks leading to three runs in the opening frame. However, the Orange and Black loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom half with two errors and a single. A double play scored the first run to make it 3-1 but Warren (2-0) was able to score five more times with two outs to take a 6-3 edge. An error by Searcy allowed the second run to score before Jude Cathey swatted a two-run double to left field to put the Jacks ahead 4-3. Layton Wolfe capped the six-run frame with a two-run double of his own to right field.
The Lions got one back in the top of the second on a wild pitch to pull within 6-4, but Warren regained a three-run advantage with a score in the bottom of the fourth to go ahead 7-4. The Lumberjacks added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth with RBIs from Cathey and Tucker McDiarmid to move the margin to 9-4. Ervin Rivera recorded a perfect inning in the top of the seventh to clinch the win for Warren.
Kolby Pope earned the win on the mound for the Jacks by tossing five innings. The junior hurler allowed four runs on five hits with eight strikeouts against three walks, but didn’t allow a run in his final three innings. Rivera picked up a save by finishing the game with two scoreless innings on the bump.
Offensively, the Orange and Black had eight base knocks with eight different players recording a hit. Cathey led the team with three RBIs, while Wolfe drove in two and McDiarmid one. Pope and Rivera scored two runs apiece, while Jackson Denton stole the only base of the game for Warren.
The Lumberjacks return home to play Fordyce Thursday, Feb. 29 in a nonconference showdown. First pitch from the Warren Sports Complex is set for 4:30 p.m.
The above story was originally reported by Saline River Chronicle. Any re-publication on a commercial news site or in print is prohibited unless credit is given to Saline River Chronicle.