Wolves Drop Two Against Ponies

WESSON – The Co-Lin Baseball team stepped out of conference play for their final two no-conference games by hosting Panola College on Thursday, April 17 and Friday, April 18. The Ponies won both games taking the first game, 8-4, and the second game, 8-7.

GAME ONE

The game was scoreless through the first three innings, but the Ponies took advantage of an error and broke through with a single run in the top of the fourth to take a 1-0 lead over the Wolves. The Ponies then took advantage of another error and added two runs in the fifth to extend their lead to 3-0.

The Wolves cut into the lead in the bottom of the fourth as Sam Cook (Shubuta) crushed the first pitch of the inning for a leadoff solo home run cutting the lead down to 3-1. The Wolves then scored one run in the bottom of the seventh as Bradley Hanlon (Monroe, LA) stepped up to the plate with one out on the board, took one swing of the bat, and smashed a solo home run over the left field fence to cut the lead down to 3-2.

The Ponies then responded with four runs in the top of the eighth to increase their lead to 7-2. The Wolves responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning as Owen Spooner (Stone) drew a leadoff walk to get the offense going. Later in the inning, Caleb Brooks (Brandon) drew a walk to put two runners on with one out while both then advanced on a groundout by Lucas Harrington (Youngsville, LA). Dylan Wesson (Brandon) then hit a two-RBI single scoring both Spooner and Brooks to cut the lead down to 7-4.

Another error by the Wolves in the top of the ninth allowed a run to score for the Ponies and increase the lead to 8-4. The Wolves then got bottom of the ninth started with a leadoff walk to Hanlon, but a double play followed by a flyout ended the inning and sealed the game one win for the Ponies.

The Wolves totaled five hits as a team with Sam Cook leading the way with two hits while Dylan Wesson, Bradley Hanlon, and Reise Thomas (Florence) had one hit each. Wesson led the Wolves in RBIs with two while Cook and Hanlon had one RBI each.

Tanner Blackwell (Flora) got the start and fell to 0-3 while pitching four innings and allowing one unearned run on two hits with eight strikeouts. Lane Robertson (Columbia) pitched three innings of relief allowing two unearned runs on one hit with two walks and three strikeouts. Carter Leggett (Laurel) pitched one inning of relief allowing four runs, all earned, on three hits with one walk while Darrin Robbins (Sumrall) pitched one inning of relief allowing one unearned run with two strikeouts.

GAME TWO

The second game saw the Wolves take an early lead as they scored one run in the bottom of the second as Bradley Hanlon drew a leadoff walk to get the offense started. Caleb Brooks and Reise Thomas then hit back-to-back singles to load the bases with no outs. After back-to-back strikeouts, Gavin Bledsoe (Brandon) drew a walk scoring Hanlon while a strikeout then ended the inning with the bases loaded but the Wolves holding a 1-0 lead.

The Wolves then added a pair of runs in the bottom of the third as Lucas Harrington hit a leadoff single to start the offense. Sam Cook then stepped up to the plate, took one swing of the bat and crushed a 1-1 pitch over the left field fence for a two-run home run, his team-leading seventh of the season, to increase the lead to 3-0.

That lead held until the Ponies took advantage of an error and tied the game with three runs in the top of the fifth making the score, 3-3. However, the Wolves responded with a single run in the bottom half of the inning as Harrington hit a leadoff double to start the offense and then advanced to third on an error. Later in the inning Hanlon was hit-by-pitch to put two runners on with one out. Harrington then scored on an error as Hanlon stole second to give the Wolves a 4-3 lead.

The Ponies then scored three runs in the top of the seventh to a take a 6-4 lead while a pair of runs in the top of the ninth made it 8-4. The Wolves then mounted a comeback attempt as Aiden Philyaw hit a leadoff single and then advanced to second as Owen Spooner drew a walk. Bledsoe then hit an RBI-double scoring Philyaw making the score, 8-5. Donovan Moore (Bude) then hit an RBI-groundout scoring Spooner while Bledsoe scored on an RBI-groundout by Harrington. Cook then hit a single to extend the inning. After Avery Griffin (Brookhaven) was brought on as a pinch runner, Hanlon hit a double to put the tying run at third and winning run on second. However, a strikeout ended the game sealing the win for the Ponies.

The Wolves totaled 11 hits as a team as Lucas Harrington led the way with three hits while Sam Cook and Aiden Philyaw had two hits apiece with Gavin Bledsoe, Bradley Hanlon, Caleb Brooks, and Reise Thomas adding one hit each.

Cameron Patterson (Central, LA) got the start and earned a no-decision while pitching three scoreless innings allowing one hit with two walks and two strikeouts. Nash Sturdivant (Brandon) pitched two innings of relief allowing three unearned runs on three hits with three walks and one strikeout. Judson Griffin (Brookhaven) pitched two innings of relief allowing three runs, all earned, on three hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Dee Morgan (Tallulah, LA) picked up the loss in relief (1-1) while pitching 1.1 innings of relief and allowing two earned runs on two hits with two walks. Jacob Buffalo (Foxworth) pitched 0.2 innings of relief with two strikeouts.

Co-Lin is now 27-22 overall and will return to action in MACCC play on the road against Hinds on Wednesday, April 23. First pitch between the Wolves and the Eagles is set for 3 p.m., at Joe G. Moss Field in Raymond.