Signal Mountain Eagles go 0-2 on their first trip to Spring Fling

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — For the second time in as many days on its biggest stage of the season, the Signal Mountain baseball team dug a hole.

And the Eagles couldn’t dig out of this one, either, losing 11-0 in six innings to Lexington on Wednesday at the Class AA state tournament. Signal, which fell behind 7-0 after the first two innings against Lexington, lost 10-2 to Christian Academy of Knoxville on Tuesday to fall into the losers bracket.

Cut short by Wednesday’s defeat were the Eagles’ championship aspirations after becoming the first team in program history to reach the Spring Fling. It also marked only the third time this season that Signal (29-11) has suffered back-to-back losses.

“I hate the way (the season) ended, but if you judge success on the full year, it’s been a very good season,” Signal coach Josh Gandy said. “These seniors have been part of three district championships, a district runner-up, a sectional win and the first Signal Mountain baseball team to make it to the state.”

Playing parts of the game in a steady downpour — there was one rain delay — Signal succumbed to numerous hits just beyond infielders’ grasps, but those hits were numerous. Lexington (28-8) finished with 16, and it could’ve been more if not for the 10-run mercy rule.

“A checked-swing single, a single dumped just over the infield,” Gandy said. “Obviously they’re a good team, but also obviously it was their day.”

The Eagles weren’t nearly as fortunate, managing only a double from Garrett Hensley and a single from Briston Reese.

Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him on Twitter @wardgossett.