Bobcats best Lions with late score

SMACKOVER — Jessieville left

10 runners on base and committed five errors in a 6-5 loss to Corning on Thursday in the first round of the Class 3A state baseball tournament.

Sophomore Cole Guthrey earned a walk in the final inning, advanced on a passed ball and later scored on a fielder’s choice to score the decisive run for Corning (19-9), the No. 3 seed from the 3A-3 region. Jessieville senior Oliver Nasilai was thrown out at home in the bottom of the inning attempting to score the tying run.

Nasilai also reached base on a walk, advanced to second base on a single by sophomore Aaron Ford and moved to third on a passed ball with one out. Senior Mayson Bradshaw hit a ground ball to first base and Nasilai was thrown out at home. Jessieville

(14-10) still had Ford on third base with two outs, but senior Noah Eskew struck out to end the game.

A hit batsmen in the first inning later scored to give Corning the early 1-0 lead in the first inning. Jessieville answered with two runs in the bottom half of the first.

Senior Dalton McClard reached base on a walk and junior Micheal Vangilder singled past shortstop. McClard scored on a double by senior Adam Saveall and Vangilder scored on a single by Nasilai.

The Bobcats tied the game at 2-2 after a runner who reached base on an error came around to score. Neither team scored again until the fifth inning.

Corning had two hits in the fifth inning, but the go-ahead run was scored on an error and a walk forced in the team’s fourth run. A balk by Jessieville senior starter Logan Perkins plated Corning’s fifth run.

Nasilai pulled two runs back for the Lions in the bottom of the frame with a two-run home run to left field. McClard tied the game at 5-5 in the bottom of the sixth inning on a single by Vangilder.

Jessieville had eight hits and six walks, while Corning managed just six hits and two walks. No Bobcats struck out in the game.

Nasilai finished 3-for-3 with a walk, a run and three RBIs in his final game. Vangilder was 2-for-3 at the plate with a walk, a run and an RBI. McClard scored two runs on 1-for-3 hitting with a walk.

Perkins allowed only one earned run in five innings. He finished with five runs allowed on three hits with one walk.

Eskew was credited with the loss as the relief pitcher in the seventh inning. He allowed one run on three hits and one walk in 1 2/3 innings.