Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Rogers outlasts Fayetteville
FAYETTEVILLE — Rogers broke open a tight game with four runs in the top of the eighth inning on just one hit to claim a 7-3 win over Fayetteville in 6A-West Conference baseball Monday night at Purple Bulldog Field.
The Mounties (5-1, 4-1 6A-West) combined two walks, an error, a hit batsman and an RBI single by Ty Robinson to grab their first lead since 1-0 in the top of the eighth. Fayetteville (4-1, 2-1) roared back to load the bases in the bottom of the inning thanks to two singles and a walk with nobody out. However, Mounties pitcher Ty Anderson bounced back with three strikeouts to end the game and celebrated with his teammates in the middle of the diamond.
Rogers Coach Matt Melson said he couldn’t be more proud of his team’s effort, despite trailing much of the night.
“We used our game two starter [Anderson],” Melson said. “These conference games, you never know when you’re going to win one. You have to take advantage when you have a chance. Just super proud of our guys.
“We were playing a little short tonight. I thought [Ty Robinson] stepped up and had a big hit in that inning. We haven’t called his number very much, but that’s kind of indicative of these guys. They’re really a selfless bunch of kids who play for each other.”
Rogers played without Caleb Champion, one of their top players, who was still in concussion protocol after a play at the plate against Springdale Har-Ber last week. But Fayetteville leadoff hitter Ken Paschal also left the game with an apparent shoulder injury after diving into second on a stolen base in the sixth inning. He finished with three hits and scored a run.
Fayetteville Coach Scott Gallagher acknowledged it was a tough game.
“Obviously we fight and get ourselves a two-run lead going into seventh — where you want to be,” Gallagher said. “But we weren’t able to finish it off. Give credit to them. We had a couple mistakes and hopefully we can clean those things up and they won’t come bite us later in the season.”
The Mounties (5-1, 4-1 6A-West) trailed 3-2 in the top of the seventh and were down to their last strike, but second baseman Jacob Morris singled back up the middle to tie the game.
Rogers took an early 1-0 lead on Zach Lawing’s solo home run in the top of the third. Fayetteville rallied with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Left fielder Carter Morris came up with a tworun double to give the Bulldogs a 3-1 lead.
Lawing drove in three runs from the leadoff spot for the Mounties. Hudson Henagan also added two hits.
The two teams will square off again today in Rogers. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m.
BENTONVILLE 4, BENTONVILLE WEST 0
Carter Nye threw six shutout innings and helped his cause with two RBI as Bentonville shut out West at Wolverine Athletic Complex.
Nye allowed just three hits and struck out three in a 90-pitch outing, while Carter Allan competed the shutout with a perfect seventh.
Bentonville (4-3, 3-2) quickly grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first as Bryce Read tripled and scored on Brooks Hasenclever’s sacrifice fly.
Read made it 2-0 in the third when he singled and later scored on a wild pitch, then Nye followed with a two-run single to complete the scoring.
Hasenclever and Cooper Cothran each had two hits for Bentonville. Jake Casey threw 5 2/3 innings and took the loss for West (4-1, 4-1).
SPRINGDALE HAR-BER 10, FS NORTHSIDE 0
Ross Felder threw four no-hit innings, and Braden Sprague drove in five runs as Har-Ber rolled to a victory at home over Northside.
Felder threw just 61 pitches and struck out seven batters, while Drew Crowley pitched the fifth for the Wildcats (3-3, 2-3).
Sprague put Har-Ber on the scoreboard with his bases-clearing double in the second inning, then added another two-run double as part of a four-run fifth that forced the game to end with a 10-run rule. Luke Altom added a two-run single in the third, while Caleb Smith had a bases-loaded walk and an RBI single and Felder also had an RBI double.
Maddax Kincannon broke up the no-hitter with a fifth-inning single for Northside.