Urbana 6, Shawnee 3
Urbana kept its hot streak rolling Friday night, stretching its win streak to 11 games with a 6-3 road victory over Shawnee.
The Hillclimbers wasted no time jumping ahead. Carter Houseman worked a leadoff walk, stole second, and advanced to third on a dropped third strike before Grady Lantz lined an RBI double to center to plate the game’s first run. A passed ball later allowed Lantz to score, giving Urbana an early 2-0 advantage.
Shawnee answered with a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the first to cut the lead in half, but Urbana remained in control early at 2-1.
The Braves threatened again in the second, putting two runners aboard with one out, but Urbana starter Brody Donahoe worked out of trouble with a big looking strikeout to strand both runners.
The Hillclimbers added another run in the third when Donahoe led off with a double and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Tate Lantz for a 3-1 lead.
Shawnee responded again in the bottom half. A leadoff double and a Urbana error helped set up a pair of RBI singles, one to center and one on an infield hit, tying the game at 3-3. Despite the traffic, Donahoe did not allow an earned run, surrendering seven hits while striking out four.
The decisive inning came in the fifth. Donahoe and Kevin Endres both drew walks to start the rally before Tate Lantz ripped the first pitch he saw into right field for an RBI single. Endres later scored on a wild pitch, and Jackson Stacy added an RBI groundout to bring home Lantz and stretch Urbana’s lead to 6-3.
From there, the Hillclimbers’ bullpen shut the door. BJ Potter was excellent in relief, tossing three scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and two walks with three strikeouts. He stranded five runners over his outing. Tate Lantz then slammed the door in the seventh, striking out the side in a perfect inning.
Urbana collected seven hits from seven different players, with Tate Lantz posting the only multi-RBI game.
The Hillclimbers improve to 16-5 and will host Russia on Saturday.
Greeneview 2, West Liberty-Salem 0
West Liberty-Salem saw its six-game winning streak snapped Friday night in a tight 2-0 pitchers’ duel loss to Greeneview.
Both teams had early opportunities. Greeneview put its leadoff hitter aboard in the first but grounded into a double play to end the inning.
The Tigers had their best chance in the second. A Greeneview error and two walks loaded the bases for Timmy Howells, but after battling through the at-bat, he was caught looking on strike three to end the threat.
Greeneview broke through in the third. A one-out single and fielder’s choice put a runner in scoring position before an RBI single to right made it 1-0. Another run came home moments later when a West Liberty-Salem outfield error allowed a second Ram run to score.
That proved to be enough.
The Tigers had runners aboard in several innings, including another promising opportunity in the fifth after back-to-back singles, but could not cash in.
Despite the loss, Reese Oder turned in a strong outing on the mound for West Liberty-Salem, allowing just one earned run over six innings while scattering seven hits, walking one, and striking out three.
Braden Hershberger, Oder, and Timmy Howells accounted for West Liberty-Salem’s only three hits.
The Tigers fall to 13-8 and will travel to Fairbanks on Monday.
Jonathan Alder 11, Benjamin Logan 1 (6 innings)
Benjamin Logan was held without a hit Friday night as Jonathan Alder rolled to an 11-1 run-rule victory in six innings.
After a scoreless first inning, the Pioneers erupted for five runs in both the second and third innings to quickly seize control.
The second inning featured a mix of Benjamin Logan miscues and timely Jonathan Alder hitting. Two Raider errors, a walk, and a hit batter helped set the table before a two-out, bases-clearing triple broke the game open. An RBI single later in the inning made it 5-0.
Jonathan Alder piled on in the third, stringing together six straight two-out hits. The inning was highlighted by a two-run single and a two-run bases-loaded double as the lead ballooned to 10-0.
Benjamin Logan avoided being shut out in the fifth despite not recording a hit. Micah Gregg led off with a walk, Carter Fay was hit by a pitch, and courtesy runner Emerson Carpenter eventually scored when Oliver Morse chopped a ground ball to second.
That would be the Raiders’ only run.
Jonathan Alder ended the game in the sixth without recording an out, walking it off with a run-scoring single to center for the 11-1 final.
Benjamin Logan falls to 13-7 and now gets several days off before returning Thursday, May 14 against Sidney Lehman.
Greenon 11, Triad 1 (6 innings)
Triad dropped a run-rule contest Friday night, falling 11-1 to Greenon in six innings.
The Cardinals found themselves behind early after defensive issues opened the door for Greenon in the first. The Knights’ first two batters reached on Triad errors before a double to center drove both home. A passed ball later added a third run for a 3-0 lead.
Triad had chances to answer.
In the second, Jayden Blackburn and Waylin Holtsberry both walked, with Alex May adding a two-out single to load the bases. Alfred Johnson came up with a scoring chance but struck out to leave all three stranded.
The Cardinals threatened again in the third when JJ Roberts and George Hartman opened with singles, but both were left on base.
Greenon gradually extended its lead, scoring two runs in the fourth and four more in the fifth to pull away.
Triad finally broke through in the sixth. Duncan Funderburgh singled to lead off, and after Connor Hayes and Alex May were both hit by pitches to load the bases, Holtsberry lined an RBI single to left for the Cardinals’ lone run.
Greenon answered immediately in the bottom half, ending the game with a two-run, bases-loaded single to trigger the run rule.
Five different Cardinals recorded Triad’s five hits: Roberts, Hartman, Funderburgh, May, and Holtsberry. Holtsberry drove in the lone run, while Funderburgh scored it.
Triad falls to 5-14 and will next play Xenia at Day Air Ballpark, home of the Dayton Dragons.
