Strong pitching was not enough for Vols in loss

Despite eight hits for the night, the Starkville Academy Volunteers failed to get runners across the plate in a 3-1 home loss to the Pillow Academy Mustangs Friday.

Sophomore Will Miller started the game on the mound for the Volunteers, giving up two runs through 2 1/3 innings before being pulled from the game with elbow soreness.

The Mustangs were led by a strong performance from winning pitcher Garrett Brown, who hurled a complete game with two strikeouts, giving up eight hits and one run to Starkville Academy.

Dillon Carrell sparked what looked to be a rally in bottom of the sixth after reaching second on an error. Catcher Will Holley knocked his teammate across with an RBI double to cut the deficit to 3-1.

Both Carrell and Holley led the way offensively for the Vols with two hits each.

After a big offensive win against region rival Heritage Academy on Thursday night, Starkville Academy coach Brooks Roberts said the lack of production cost his team the game against Pillow Academy.

“The approach at the plate was terrible,” Roberts said. “(Thursday) was the best approach we ever had. (Friday night) I don’t think we were very mentally focused, and I’ll take the blame for that. At some point, you get nine hits, 10 hits, 11 hits, and only score one run, that’s not OK and we are better than that. That’s what hurts.”

Howell Archer followed Miller to the mound and continued the strong pitching theme for the Vols. Archer came in from the outfield to throw 4 2/3 innings. Archer only allowed one run and three hits with seven strikeouts to finish the game.

Roberts said strong pitching gave his team a chance to win, but ultimately the approach at the plate didn’t get the job done.

“Will Miller was doing great to start off the game, then his elbow started hurting him,” Roberts said. “Nothing serious, just a little soreness, and Howell Archer comes in from center field and just shoves it the entire game. That’s baseball, it’s one of those games where it didn’t come together.”

The loss drops Starkville Academy’s record to 3-5 overall.