Drillers stop Smackover

SMACKOVER - With their postseason lives at stake, the El Dorado Drillers did just enough with the bats to stay alive.

Eight players had at least one hit with Charles Hoof going 3-for-5 with an RBI, as the Drillers outlasted Smackover 13-9 at the Arkansas American Legion Junior Area Tournament on Monday.

The Drillers will play another elimination game today at 5 p.m. against either Benton Williams Tire or Texarkana.

Jack Smith was 2-for-5 with an RBI, while Brock McGoogan finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs for the Drillers, who had 12 hits in the win.

However, the Bucks didn’t go down without a fight.

Trailing 10-4 going into the bottom of the fifth, the Bucks scored two runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth to close within 10-8, but the Drillers scored three runs in the seventh to put the game away.

Cody Smith, who went 3-for-3 with a walk, had an RBI single in the sixth.

Cade Schibler, who reached safely in each of his four trips to the plate, collected a bases-loaded walk for his third RBI of the game to pull the Bucks within 10-8.

Baylor Brumley, who scored on Schibler’s free pass, also had a big day, going 3-for-3 with two walks, four runs scored and an RBI.

But despite the heroics of the Bucks’ trio, no comeback would be in the offing thanks to the Drillers’ uprising in the seventh.

Thomas Hardy led off the seventh with a double down the left-field line.

One out later, Ty Disotell hit a line drive that ricocheted off a lip of grass behind the pitcher’s mound and into center field for an RBI single to make it

11-8.

Disotell took third on a wild throw to the plate to get Hardy and scored moments later on a base hit by Smith.

Michael Brotherton pinch ran for Smith and later scored on a sacrifice fly by McGoogan to account for the inning’s final run.

Trace Shoup, who took over for Drillers starter Reece Griffin in the sixth, allowed an RBI single by Brumley in the bottom of the seventh before closing the door on the Bucks.

Griffin allowed eight runs and six hits over 5 2/3 innings to pick up the win. He walked six (one intentional) and struck out nine.

Shoup allowed two hits and one run in 1 2/3 innings to pick up the save. He walked two and struck out three.

Schibler suffered the loss after allowing eight runs and five hits in three innings of work. He walked four and struck out four.

Arkadelphia 16, El Dorado 4

The Wildcats’ run in the tournament ended when the Badgers scored 12 runs in the fourth to erase a 4-0 deficit to stay alive.

Reed Stone was 1-for-2 with a walk and a run, while Christian Webb finished 1-for2 with a walk and an RBI.

Brennan Jones, Brooks Garrison and Ryland Jackson also scored runs for the Wildcats.

Stone suffered the loss on the mound.