Bobcats rally past Andalusia
Published 12:00 am Friday, March 11, 2016
The Opp Bobcats used big seventh inning to get past the Andalusia Bulldogs 7-3 Thursday night in Andalusia.
Both teams opened up with a strong first inning from their starting pitchers.
In the bottom of the second inning, Riley Graham led off with a monster smash to left field that one-hopped to the fence for a stand-up double to get things started for the Bulldogs.
Three walks over the next five batters led to the Bulldogs taking a 1-0 lead.
A wild pitch then allowed Nathan Langley to come around to put Andalusia on top 2-0.
Andalusia starting pitcher Ethan Wilson retired the Bobcats in order in the top of the third inning with the help of a great scope from first baseman Will Clark on the third out.
Andalusia threatened to score in the bottom of the fourth inning, but a line drive off the foot that hit off the Bobcat pitcher’s foot bounced straight to the second baseman who fired to first for the final out of the inning.
A walk and error got things started for Opp in the top of the fifth inning. Opp’s Hennis Washington then scored off an error and Greg House came around to score on a wild pitch to tie the game 2-2.
Andalusia got a runner to third with one out in the bottom of the fifth, but Bobcat pitcher Cody Anderson retired the next two batters to end the inning.
Lane Worley reached on a single to start the top of the sixth inning and then came around to score on looper to center of the bat of Cody Richburg to put the Bobcats up 3-2.
Andalusia threatened again in the bottom of the sixth when Langley drew a one-out walk and Chandler Jones followed with a rip to left for a single, but relief pitcher, Britt Buckelew, retired the final batter to end the threat.
Opp tacked on four more runs in the top of the seventh, including a two-RBI single from Richburg.
“I thought we pitched well tonight,” Bobcat head coach Mike Cassady said. “That’s been the key for us. I was also proud of the way Cody Richburg played after all the stuff that happened last time we played them, and for him to come in and have a big game for us tonight, that says a lot about his character.”