Manufactured Runs Boost Tigers

PRAIRIE GROVE — Manufactured runs empowered Prairie Grove to break into the win column with a 9-5 victory over Huntsville Thursday after suffering a 6-5 defeat to Westville, Okla., last week.

The Tigers fell behind 2-0 early and fought to draw even, at 3-3, with one run in the third and a pair of runs in the fourth. The game was tight until Prairie Grove pushed 6 runs across in the fifth inning.

“We’re a pitch-to-contact crew,” said Prairie Grove coach Chris Mileham. “If we can make contact and score a few runs that’s how Prairie Grove is going to win this year.”

Couper Allen led off the third with a single. He advanced to second when Kyle Fidler was ruled out in a close call at first and went to third when Zac Perdue hit into a fielder’s choice. With Cole Simmons batting, a courtesy runner scampered home on a passed ball. The manufactured run pulled the Tigers within 2-1, but Huntsville tacked on a run in the top of the fourth to stretch its lead to 3-1.

Huntsville starter Tad Jones walked Drew Cates and Silas Myane to start the fourth. He then struck out Chase Wade, but hit Jadin Higgins with a pitch to load the bases. D.J. Pearson popped up for the second out, but with the bases still loaded Allen (2-for-2 with 3 RBIs) drove in a pair of runs by singling. Jones was pulled after the fourth inning but not without earning the respect of Mileham.

“It’s early in the year and (Huntsville coach) Greg (Harris) doesn’t want to pitch him very long,” Mileham said. “I understand that. We got lucky and took advantage of that.”

Junior Ty Buchanan, who took the loss for Huntsville, endured a long fifth inning. He issued a walk to begin his stint on the mound. Passed balls didn’t help his cause with Perdue moving to third. Buchanan followed a strikeout with another walk to put runners at the corners. A third passed ball allowed the go-ahead run to score for Prairie Grove. Myane eventually walked to load the bases.

Buchanan walked the next three batters with each free pass bringing in a run extending the Tiger lead to 7-3 before he was yanked. Sophomore Kent Mayes came on in relief then walked in a run and yielded a sacrifice fly by Perdue stretching Prairie Grove’s advantage to 9-3.

Mileham praised the patience of the Tigers in the batter’s box. He said that was a key in getting Jones to reach a pitch count where he was pulled — setting up the 6 manufactured runs in the fifth.

“I attribute that to our approach at the plate against the first guy (Jones),” Mileham said. “He’s a very, good pitcher in our league.”

The Eagles got 2 runs in the sixth to trim Prairie Grove’s lead to 9-5. Wade came on in relief, pitching the last 3.2 innings to earn the win with 5 strikeouts. Huntsville was led by Buchanan (2-for-3, double, RBI) and Jones (double, 2 RBIs).

Mileham also noted starter Higgins, a sophomore, who allowed 3 runs on 6 hits, 1 base-on-balls, with 1 strikeout in 3.1 innings of work, did well early on in the game.