HAMBURG, Ark. – Just a day after picking up a walk-off win, the Warren baseball team ended up on the opposite side of the equation after allowing four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning in a 9-8 setback at Hamburg Tuesday evening.
The Lumberjacks (4-4, 2-2 in 4A-8) blew open a 2-2 ballgame with five runs in the top of the sixth inning to take a 7-2 advantage. A couple of errors and wild pitches helped Warren in the frame before Bryson Harris doubled off the wall in left field to drive home the last two runs. The first two runners reached in the bottom of the sixth to chase starter Kolby Pope from the game. Ervin Rivera entered and the Lions (2-5, 2-2 in 4A-8) were able to plate three runs to trim the Jacks’ lead to 7-5 as the game moved to the final inning.
By Dennen Cuthbertson
Saline River Chronicle Contributor
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Nathan Spears ripped a solo home run over the fence in left field with two outs to push the score to 8-5 in favor of the Orange and Black. Unfortunately the first four hitters of the bottom of the frame reached base for Hamburg. The Lions tied the game at 8-8, but Warren needed just one more out to strand the winning run at third and send the game to extra innings. However, a wild pitch allowed Hamburg to score the winning run and secure a 9-8 win.
Spears reached base four times and scored four runs to account for half of Warren’s total in the contest. The versatile sophomore also tallied two hits, including his first career home run in a varsity game, to earn the Greg Harton Shelter Insurance Player of the Game award.
Harris led the Jacks with three RBIs, while Maddox Lassiter drove home the first run of the game for Warren. Delfino Rivera had Warren’s only other hit as Hamburg outhit Warren 11-5. The Orange and Black did take advantage of several walks, hit-by-pitches, and errors, but left the bases loaded in the first and fifth innings.
Pope allowed four runs on six hits in five-plus innings with six strikeouts. Ervin Rivera pitched the sixth inning and started the seventh before Lassiter finished the game on the mound.
Lassiter drove home Spears to give Warren an early 1-0 edge in the first, but the Jacks left the bases loaded. Hamburg tied it at 1-1 in the fourth, but a 6-4-3 double play limited the damage. The Jacks regained the lead at 2-1 when Harris was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, but the home team struck back in the bottom half to make it 2-2. The teams would then combine for 13 runs to close out the game.
The Orange and Black return to action Thursday in another 4A-8 Conference matchup against Watson Chapel at home. First pitch from the Warren Sports Complex is set for 5:00 p.m.
