Tigers get first win of young season
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, March 3, 2015
The Straughn Tigers (1-2) picked up their first win of the season with a 3-1 victory over the New Brockton Gamecocks Monday night in Straughn.
Lane Sirmon started on the mound for the Tigers, and sat down the first three batters he faced. Sirmon got the final out of the top of the first when he caught a missile that was hit straight at him.
The Tigers came up in the bottom of the first inning, and with one out Barrett Bush ripped a double into the gap in left.
Sirmon came up third in the first inning, and reached on a throwing error from the pitcher. The error allowed Bush to score from first and Sirmon ended up on third.
Ethan Wilson strolled to the plate and immediately sent a rocket over the head of the centerfielder for an RBI double.
Wilson would come around to score a few batters later on a throwing error by the Gamecocks’ shortstop. At the end of the first, the Tigers were on top 3-0.
Sirmon continued to pound the strike zone in the second inning, and kept the Gamecocks scoreless after two innings.
With two outs in the third inning, Wilson singled on a shot up the middle of the diamond. Shane Jones followed with a single, and moved Wilson to third base. However, the Tigers were unable to get a run across.
Sirmon remained diligent on the mound, and sat the Gamecocks down in order in the top of the fourth inning.
After giving up a walk in the top of fifth, Campbell Hudson came in for relief of Sirmon. Hudson gave up a walk to the first batter he faced, but retired the next two batters he faced to escape the inning with no damage.
Wilson stepped back into the box in the bottom of the fifth inning, and continued his perfect night at the plate with a single through the left side of the infield. The Tigers were unable to push a runner across the plate, though.
The Gamecocks got their only run of the game in the top of the sixth inning after the Tigers committed back-to-back errors. Hudson gritted his teeth, and retired the next two batters.
The Tigers loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning on two errors and a single by Jacob Hawkins, but were still unable to get a run across.
Hudson was feeling it going into the top of the seventh, and retired the Gamecocks in order for a 3-1 victory.
“We knew coming into the season that we were going to rely on pitching,” Tigers’ head coach Jim Bedsole said. “We aren’t a team that is going to put up 15 runs a game. Every game we play this season will be close. When we get the first guy out in the inning, it decreases the chances of them scoring. I would have liked to score more runs, but overall a win is a win and I will take them how we can get them.”
The Tigers will be back in action Friday when the host the Opp Bobcats for a double header. The first game is set for 1:30 p.m.