Malvern knocks off Drillers in Zone 4 Tournament

SHERIDAN - El Dorado Drillers gave up six runs in the final two innings and fell to Malvern 8-7 Saturday in the Arkansas Junior Zone 4 Tournament.

The Drillers scored three in the first and led 3-2 until Malvern scored four runs in the top of the sixth. El Dorado scored twice in the bottom of the sixth and trailed 6-5. Malvern scored two in the top of the seventh. The Drillers answered with two in the bottom of the inning but finished a run short.

In the first, Landen Rainwater led off with a walk. Trace Shoup singled to left. Jake Eubanks was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Tyler Johnson followed with a two-run single to left-center, scoring Rainwater and Shoup. After a one-out walk to Rhett Richardson, Ty Disotell hit a ground ball to second to drive in Eubanks.

El Dorado bit into a 6-3 deficit in the sixth. Chase Brumley drew a one-out walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Disotell singled to put runners on the corners. Jackson Cook walked before Brumley scored on a wild pitch. Disotell also scored on a wild pitch, cutting the lead to 6-5. Jax Todd, who ran for Cook, also tried to score on the play when the catcher over threw the pitcher. But, Malvern's second baseman got the throw back to the catcher in time to get Todd at the plate.

In the bottom of the seventh, Shoup led off with a one-out double to right and stole third. Eubanks and Johnson worked consecutive walks. With two outs, Richardson drove in a run with a single to right. Disotell would follow with a RBI single up the middle, cutting the margin to 8-7.

But, the game ended with the tying run 90 feet away.

Josh Saulsbury pitched three innings, allowing no runs on two hits with a walk and three strikeouts. Disotell gave up two runs on three walks in one inning. Eubanks pitched an inning, allowing two runs on three walks with a strikeout. Rainwater surrendered a pair of runs on two hits and two strikeouts in an inning. Johnson gave up two runs on one hit in one inning.

Offensively, Shoup was 2-for-4 and scored twice. Johnson was 2-for-3 with two RBI. Disotell was 2-for-3.

The Drillers were scheduled to play Sheridan Sunday.