Lamar strikes early, downs Lions 13-6
HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE — Allowing four runs to visiting Lamar in each of the first two innings, Jessieville dug itself an early hole Thursday night and couldn’t recover.
The Warriors led 8-1 after two and added five runs over the final three innings to win 13-6.
“It made the guys press at the plate and in the field to make plays that they normally don’t make,” Jessieville coach Jamie Saveall said. “We were just trying to do too much and not doing what we were capable of doing. That’s what getting behind like that does to you.”
Jessieville starter Dalton McClard retired the game’s first two batters, but ran into trouble after an error extended the inning. Ethan Warren drew a bases-loaded walk, Bailey Wilson scored on a passed ball and Ike Pelts and Warren each scored on wild pitches to give Lamar an early 4-0 lead
without recording a base hit.
Jacob Roberts and Hunter Davenport each had RBI doubles in the top of the second before McClard was pulled in favor of Logan Perkins. Wilson later singled home a run, making it 8-0.
“He got the first two outs real quick, but after we missed that one on defense he got down a little bit,” Saveall said of McClard. “He never could find a rhythm after that. If he gets that third out in the first inning, it’s a different ballgame.”
After Aaron Ford’s RBI single in the bottom of the second, the Lions showed signs of life in the third. Dakota Fortenberry and Perkins each reached base and scored on Lamar errors as Jessieville pulled within 8-3.
Lamar’s Zach Dillard settled in on the mound after that, striking out six of the next 12 Lion batters.
The Warriors added three insurance runs in the fifth and one each in the sixth and seventh.
“The young man was doing a great job on the mound, but we struck out more today than we have all season,” said Saveall. “I think they knew they had to get back in the game at that point, and after they scored a couple more runs it kind of let the air out of our bubble.”
Jessieville had a modest comeback attempt in the seventh behind Dylan Anderson’s RBI groundout and Dakota Fortenberry scoring on a passed ball, but Roberts got Adam Saveall to fly out to end the game.
Dillard picked up the win, scattering six runs on five hits with 10 strikeouts and three walks in 6 2/3 innings. McClard suffered the loss with six runs allowed on three hits, striking out two while walking four.
Perkins pitched 3 2/3 innings in relief, surrendering five runs on five hits with five strikeouts and one walk.
Still recovering from an ankle injury, Moody had three of Jessieville’s five hits and scored one run.
“He’s a great player; he’s the type of guy you want being your senior leader,” Saveall said. “When he’s gutting it out like that, those underclassmen see that and that’s important.”
Roberts had three hits in five at-bats for the Warriors, finishing with two doubles, one single, two RBI and one run scored.
Jessieville dropped to 10-5 overall and 3-3 in conference before traveling to Gurdon today.
“It’s invaluable to get them back out there so quickly,” said Saveall. “It’s just like getting bucked off a horse; you’ve just got to get right back on.”
Lamar;440 031 1 — 13 10 3
Jessieville;012 010 2 — 6 5 4 McClard, Perkins (2), Saveall (6), Moody (7) and Saveall, Fortenberry (6). Dillard, Roberts (7) and Pelts. W-Dillard. L-McClard. 2B-Lamar, Davenport, Dillard, Roberts (2). SF-Lamar, Pelts. SB-Jessieville, Fortenberry. Lamar, Davenport (2), Dillard, Pelts (2), Warren, West.