HSV splits with Morrilton on road

MORRILTON — Hot Springs Village needed a full game to get its bats going as the team split on the road against Morrilton Friday, dropping the first game 5-1 before winning the second 5-3.

Graves Sports got on the scoreboard first with Ben Slate scoring a run in the top of the third inning on the team’s only hit of the inning. He made it around the diamond after hitting a single to lead off the inning before three consecutive outs by his teammates.

Cade Payton got in scoring position in the top of the fourth but could not find his way home. Morrilton took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the inning before adding two more in the bottom of the fifth and one in the sixth to secure the win. HSV could not get a runner past first after Morrilton scored.

“We had runners on base at times,” said head coach Richard Cheek. “[We] just could not get a timely hit. We were in the game up until the fourth inning and pulled our starter Ben Slate.

“Cade Jackson came in [and] had a little trouble finding the strike zone. Then we put in Joey Kilzer who finished up the game.”

Slate picked up the loss, giving up two runs on four hits, two walks and a hit batter while striking out four in four innings of work. Jackson gave up two runs off four walks while striking out one in one inning, and Kilzer allowed one run off four walks with one strikeout to finish the game.

Morrilton started out the second game strong, taking a 2-0 lead in the first before stretching to a 3-0 lead in the second, but HSV found its stride, pulling within 3-2 after Payton and Cooper Pearson both scored in the top of the third. Stephen Turner, Payton and Pearson all scored in the top of the fourth to take a 5-3 lead as Payton held off the home team for the win.

Matt Carmack started the second game, giving up two runs on two hits before leaving the game.

“[He] pitched one inning and came out of the game with some shoulder issues,” said Cheek. “Then Cade Payton came in and pitched the rest of the game, just giving up one run. Things happen when you hit the ball and have more timely hits.”

Payton allowed one run off four hits and four walks while striking out five in four innings of work.

Graves Sports will host Benton at 6 p.m. today before traveling to Maumelle on Thursday.