Jr. Sox finish 1-2 in pool play
SPRINGDALE – After going 1-1 in their first two games of pool play in the Five-tool Tournament in Northwest Arkansas Friday, the Bryant Junior Black Sox fell 3-0 to Rawlings Arkansas Prospects on Saturday going into today’s round of bracket play.
The Jr. Sox (18-6) could muster just four hits in the shutout loss, while Rawlings scored one in the first and two and third off of Bryant starter Blaine Sears, who pitched well throughout. Sears followed with four shutout innings, and gave up three runs on seven hits and no walks, striking out seven in a complete seven innings.
Ryan Riggs went 2 for 3, while Colby Morrow and Sears added a hit each. FRIDAY
After getting no-hit in a
7-1 loss to Tri-state Arsenal, the Jr. Sox came back to down West Texas ABA 4-2 in Friday’s second game.
The Black Sox took a 2-0 lead after one inning when Lawson Speer reached on an error and advanced to second base on a Noah Davis bunt single. After an error advanced both runners, Peyton Dillon knocked in Speer with a single to centerfield for the 1-0 lead. Davis scored a batter later on Ryan
Riggs’ RBI fielders’ choice grounder for the 2-run advantage.
It remained 2-0 until the
Jr. Sox scored twice more in the fourth. Dakota Clay reached on a one-out walk and Gavin Burton was hit by a pitch. After a strikeout, Blaine Sears came through with a two-out double to left to score both runners for the 4-0 lead.
West Texas would put up two runs in the sixth, but Tyler Bates relieved Will Hathcote and struck out two without giving up a hit or a walk in 1.1 innings of scoreless work for the save. Hathcote picked up the win giving up two runs on eight hits and two walks, striking out four in 5.2 innings.
Sears finished 1 for 2 with two RBIS, while Dillon and Riggs both went 1 for 3 with an RBI. Speer and Davis both scored once with a hit.