WARREN, Ark. – The Warren Lumberjacks baseball team dropped a 7-4 decision to Stuttgart in the team’s home conference opener Thursday evening at the Warren Sports Complex.
Top photo: Ren Reep at shortstop for the Lumberjacks vs. Stuttgart Thursday.
By Dennen Cuthbertson
Saline River Chronicle Sports Contributor
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Warren falls to 4-1 on the season and 1-1 in 4A-8 play, while Stuttgart is now 2-3 overall and 1-1 in conference action. The game was originally set for Friday but was moved to Thursday in anticipation of inclement weather.
The Ricebirds tallied the first two runs of the contest with a RBI single and run on a wild pitch in top of the opening frame. The Jacks fought back with one in the bottom half when Nathan Spears doubled home Ren Reep to make the score 2-1. Stuttgart added another in the top of the third before Warren kept pace with a RBI by Ervin Rivera on a hit-by-pitch to pull within 3-2. The bases remained loaded but a popout and groundout ended the threat.
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Stuttgart added two unearned runs each in the fifth and sixth innings to take control of the game at 7-2. The Orange and Black secured a run in the sixth inning on a RBI single by Bryson Harris and then added another on a RBI groundout by AJ Jordan in the bottom of the seventh inning to make the score 7-4. However, a strikeout ended the game to clinch the win for the visitors.
Junior Kolby Pope tossed 5 2/3 innings and allowed seven runs (three earned) on seven hits. Pope registered eight strikeouts and walked two. Reep gave up one hit in 1 1/3 innings pitched for the Jacks with two walks and two punchouts.
Offensively, Spears and Reep led Warren with two hits apiece. The Lumberjacks outhit the Ricebirds 9-8, but made four errors defensively and left 11 men on base.
Warren returns to action next Tuesday, March 12 in another conference showdown versus Crossett. First pitch from EC Crossett Field is set for 5 p.m.
The above story and stats were originally reported by Saline River Chronicle. Any re-publication on a commercial news site or in print is prohibited unless credit is given to Saline River Chronicle.
