Parkers Chapel tops Murfreesboro 4-2

HORATIO - Terrific pitching has been a hallmark in postseason runs at Parkers Chapel in the past, and so far at the regional tournament, the Trojans have gotten stellar performances.

The latest came on Friday, as the Trojans topped Murfreesboro 4-2 in the semifinals of the 2A South Regional Tournament.

Caleb Barnes went the distance with a six-hitter for the Trojans (23-7), the No. 2 seed from the 8-2A who clinched a berth in the state tournament with an 8-3 win over Dierks on Thursday.

Friday's victory sent the Trojans into Saturday's regional final against Woodlawn, who downed Horatio in the semifinals to advance.

Friday's win was the second in three tries for the Trojans against the Rattlers (24-3), the No. 1 seed from the 7-2A whose only other loss this season was to Horatio.

PC topped Murfreesboro 12-4 in their season opener in March, but the Rattlers snapped the Trojans' nine-game winning streak just over two weeks ago with an 11-8 win.

Barnes was staked to a 3-0 lead after the Trojans scored two runs in the first and one in the fourth.

The Rattlers did all of their damage in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead to 3-2 before the Trojans scored a run in the fifth to make the final margin.

Barnes walked two, hit a batter, struck out three and needed only 81 pitches to go the distance, throwing 50 strikes.

Leadoff man Jay Stuard was 3-for-4 against Barnes, but the lefthander didn't give the Rattlers an opportunity to do damage behind him, as the junior held the next three batters to a combined 0-for-10 at the plate.

Barnes also helped himself by going 2-for-2 with a walk.

Trace Shoup also had a multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-3 with a double and a walk while scoring a run.

Chris Greer and Reid Cates added singles for the Trojans.

Austin Looney drew two of the Trojans' seven walks in the game and had an RBI.

Blake Caldwell and Paytin Greene also had RBIs in the win.

Sloan Perrin took the loss for the Rattlers, working 5 1/3 innings. He allowed six hits and four runs with three being earned. He walked seven and struck out seven.

Against the Outlaws, Cates and Shoup collaborated on an eight-hitter.

Cates allowed all eight hits and three runs with only one being earned in six innings of work. He didn't issue any walks and struck out six.

Shoup had a strikeout in a scoreless seventh.

The Trojans fell behind early after Dierks scored a run in the first, but the Trojans answered with two runs in the bottom of the first and four more in the third to take a commanding lead.

The Trojans were held to just three hits, but Caldwell had a double and two RBIs in the win. Greer and Shoup had singles for the Trojans, who drew 10 walks and took advantage of four errors.