Golden Tigers earn split with Colbert Heights
By Staff
Mike Self FCT Sports Editor
RUSSELLVILLE - Jacob Daniel went 3-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs to back up a strong outing by Preston Beasley on Tuesday as Russellville handed Colbert Heights its first loss of the season, beating the Wildcats 7-2 in the second game of a doubleheader.
Colbert Heights won the opener 5-2 behind a complete game, 11-strikeout performance from Troy Oliver.
Daniel, who twice struck out on three pitches against Oliver in game one, bounced back in the nightcap by ripping three line-drive hits off Wildcat starter Patrick Cummings.
After the Wildcats scored two runs in the top of the first, Daniel smoked an RBI double to left-center in the bottom half to make it 2-1.
With the score tied 2-2 in the bottom of the third, Daniel drove another double over the leftfielder's head, stole third and scored the go-ahead run on a groundout by Cory Trapp.
After Beasley pitched out of a two-on, one-out jam in the top of the fifth, Daniel delivered the key hit as the Golden Tigers (9-4) scored three runs in the bottom half.
Caleb Mitchell and Jake Ward reached on consecutive infield hits with one out, and Daniel then lined an RBI single up the middle for a 4-2 lead. Two more runs scored on wild pitches as Russellville extended the lead to 6-2.
That was more than enough cushion for Beasley, who retired the last eight men he faced. He ended up allowing just one hit in 6 2/3 scoreless innings of relief.
Beasley finished with six strikeouts, walking one batter and hitting two more.
Jake Ward was 2-for-3 in the second game with two runs scored, and Corey Flanagan walked three times and scored a run. Mitchell was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run, and Nate McAlister had an RBI bunt single. Trey Hooper also scored a run.
The Golden Tigers started strong against Oliver in the opener, scoring one run in each of the first two innings.
Mitchell led off the first with a single and scored on a double to left by Ward, and Flanagan led off the second with a double and came home on Matt Crawford's RBI single to make it 2-0.
Colbert Heights took the lead on Mitchell Dalrymple's three-run double in the top of the third, and Oliver settled into a groove thereafter. He struck out nine and allowed only three hits over the final five innings.
Oliver ended up allowing seven hits and did not issue a walk.
Cory Trapp took the loss, striking out seven in a complete game.
