Rivals split doubleheader
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Andalusia almost let an 8-0 lead go by Monday night as Straughn scored six runs in the sixth inning in the first game of a doubleheader, but the Bulldogs prevailed and won 8-6. In the second game, Straughn beat Andalusia scoring eight runs in the second inning alone to claim an 8-4 win.
Andalusia 8, Straughn 6
After scoring one run in the second inning, the Bulldogs (4-12) answered with five additional runs in the third, and two in the fourth.
In the second inning, Andalusia’s Nate Mack scored on an error, while in the third, Robert Woodall, Shane Culbreth, Dilan Manring, Mack and Aaron Norris all scored on three hits and two errors.
Woodall and Culbreth scored their team’s last two runs in the fourth on errors.
However, Straughn came back in the sixth scoring six runs on six hits and five errors as Josh Dewrell, Luke Fussell, Nick Allen, Drew Jones, Cody Hughes and Zack Stinson all scored for the Tigers (12-2).
“We played a great game up to that point,” Andalusia coach Jonathan Rasberry said. “In the fifth inning, we had an opportunity to put that game away. We had two men on and nobody out, and we were going to get a sacrifice bunt to get those guys in position.
“When you have an opportunity to finish somebody, you’ve got to take advantage of that,” he said. “I think people are wandering why I’m so hard on the kids and why I’m really coaching just as hard when we’re up 8-0 or down 8-0 — that’s just the reason.”
Rasberry said one thing he liked Monday night was the way his team battled.
“I was proud of them for coming back and doing a good job,” he said. “I think offensively, we swung the bat pretty well.”
Woodall was 1-for-4 with one triple and two runs; Culbreth was 1-for-4 with one single and two runs; Manring was 1-for-4 with one single and one run; Mack was 2-for-4 with two singles and two runs; and Norris was 1-for-3 with one single and one run.
Andalusia’s Lee Enzor earned the win on the mound and Zack Ward earned the save.
Straughn 8, Andalusia 4
Down 2-0, the Tigers rallied on an RBI single from Zack Lunsford, a 2 RBI single from Fussell, a 2 RBI single from Jones, an RBI double from Parker, and a 2 RBI double from Stinson to score eight runs.
The Bulldogs scored two runs in the first inning on a 2 RBI double from Mack to score Woodall and Enzor on a 2-and-2 count at the plate.
Andalusia’s final two runs came in the fourth inning as Culbreth knocked an RBI single to score C.P. Rogers. The last run came as Woodall came around on a sacrific pop up from Enzor.
Dewrell earned the win on the mound for Straughn. He had 10 strikeouts, pitched 5.2 innings, allowed nine hits and four runs.
Nick Allen earned the save, striking out three batters.
Dewrell was 0-for-4 with one run; Fussell was 1-for-4 with one single and two RBIs; Allen was 0-for-4 with one run; Jones was 2-for-3 with two singles and two RBIs; Parker was 2-for-4 with one single, one double, one RBI and two runs; Stinson was 1-for-4 with one double and two RBIs; Hughes was 0-for-4 with one run; and Turvin was 1-for-4 with one single and one run.
Straughn coach John Fussell was not available for comment as of press time Tuesday.
Straughn and Andalusia will play in the first annual Straughn baseball tournament this Friday and Saturday.