Black Sox split with Pirates
BRYANT – The Bryant Black Sox senior squad would split a doubleheader with the Russellville Pirates this past Friday in Bryant. After their comeback fell just short in the opener, 11-10, the Black Sox defeated the Pirates 10-6 in the nightcap to improve their record to 28-11 overall.
At least one run was scored in every inning except the sixth in the second game as the Black Sox got on the board first. Noah Davis took a one-out walk in the bottom of the first inning, went to second when Connor Martin was hit by a pitch and scored on Colby Morrow’s RBI single to right field for the early 1-0 advantage.
Russellville picked up an unearned run in the top of the second to tie it, but the Sox got that run back and more in the bottom of the inning. Drew Hatman reached via one-out walk and stole second before Cade Parker was hit by a pitch. Blaine Sears reached on a fielder’s choice with Hatman getting thrown out at home, and after Sears stole second to put runners on second and third, Ryan Riggs doubled both runs in to put Bryant up 3-1.
Russellville, though, would take the lead in the third with three runs coming around on four straight hits, including a triple and double, for the Pirates’ 4-3 lead. After a walk to put runners on first and second with no outs, Sears the starter induced two straight fly outs, striking the last man out to get out of the inning.
An RBI single for the Pirates put Russellville up
5-3 in the top of the fourth, but the Black Sox would get some help from their opponent in the bottom of the inning with a one-out walk and consecutive errors allowing Bryant to get within 5-4. Cade Parker stole home to tie things up and Sears scored on a wild pitch to give the Sox a 6-5 lead. Davis, who was hit by a pitch, later scored on a wild pitch before Martin, also hit by a pitch, scored on a passed ball for the 8-5 lead.
The Black Sox added on in the fifth, scoring two runs with two outs on Riggs and Morrow RBI singles, but the Pirates were held to just a single run in the seventh to give Bryant the win.
Sears started giving up five runs (four earned) on nine hits and a walk, striking out
six in five innings for the win. Hayden Thompson pitched an inning of relief, giving up a run on two hits, while striking out three.
At the plate, Riggs went 2 for 4 with three RBIS, with Morrow 2 for 3 with two RBIS. Davis (two runs) and Parker (three runs) added a hit apiece.
The Pirates jumped on the Sox in the opener and led 9-0 after two and a half innings. Bryant scored one run in each of the third, fourth and fifth innings, but Russellville still led 11-3 after five complete. The Black Sox made a valiant effort in the seventh with seven runs, but came up just short.
Davis went 2 for 3 with two RBIS, while Morrow went 1 for 4 with four RBIS.
Riggs and Sears both went 1 for 2 with two runs and an RBI, with Hatman adding a 1 for 2 with a run.
The Black Sox await to play in the AAA Senior American Legion State Tournament, which is scheduled to start next week.