Marion misses chances

Marion misses chances

Pats swept by Tigers

Sports Editor Marion had two chances to nab an elusive first win yesterday against Little Rock Central, but weren’t able to cash them in on either occasion.

The Pats (0-6 overall, 0-2 7A/6A-East) were swept in their conference-opening doubleheader, losing decisions of 4-3 and 7-4 against the Tigers at John Robbins Field.

In the opening game, Marion spotted Little Rock Central a 4-0 lead after four-and-a-half innings before scoring the last three runs of the game, while also stranding two runners in scoring position in the bottom of the sixth, as well as another runner at second base in the bottom of the seventh.

In the nightcap, Marion carried its offensive momentum over from the first game to the second, scoring three times in the top of the first for an early 3-0 lead, only to give three runs right back in the home-half of the frame. The Tigers would score seven of the game’s final eight runs to complete the sweep.

Those mistakes allowed Little Rock Central to strike for three runs in the top of the first in the opener against Marion starter, right-hander Tyler Steele.

However, just one of those runs were earned as the Tigers benefited from a pair of Marion errors to set the table for them in that stanza.

From that point on, the pitching and defenses dominated until the Tigers added their fourth run in the top of the fourth on a sacrifice fly. Trailing 4-0 in the bottom of the fifth, Marion hit the comeback trail. The Pats broke through when Tony Rudd walked and scored in the bottom of the fifth on a ground-out by Steele and Heath Stephenson and Peyton McElroy would score when third baseman Jackson Wiggins reached on an error to extend the inning.

With Wiggins aboard, and just one out, Central produced a fly-out by senior Ben Vaughn and an inningending strikeout sandwiched around Joel Sargent reaching on an error.

In the bottom of the sixth, Hayden Hodge would reach on an error and advance to third with just one out, but the next two Pats were retired in order and Little Rock Central got to the seventh with their lead intact.

The first two Pats in the bottom of the seventh were retired in order, but a Vaughn single gave Marion hope before pinch-runner Hayden Beck was ran down near second base. Steele worked all seven innings for Marion, allowing seven hits, four runs (two earned) while walking three and striking three out as he took the loss. Central’s Jalen Scott notched the win.

In the second game, Marion looked good to break into the win column after throwing up those three runs in the first.

That rally began when Stephenson walked to lead the game off and Stephenson singled behind him. Stephenson would score on a Vaughn single and with just one out, Marion was set up with two runners in scoring position. That’s when Colin Carpenter laid down a very effective squeeze bunt that easily scored Steele from third and also pinch-runner Drew Hutchinson from second, who never seemed to stop running upon contact and notched Marion’s third run.

However, Central got a key two-run double in the bottom of the first and suddenly, the score was 3-3 headed to the second inning.

Central would score twice in the fourth inning and added one more in the bottom of the sixth to clinch the final. Sophomore lefty Ripp Inman took the loss for Marion after working two innings, allowing four hits and a pair of earned runs. He walked three batters and struck out two.

Marion plays a doubleheader at Memphis Bolton on Friday afternoon. At 4:30 p.m. they will play Harding Academy from Memphis before playing Bolton at 7 p.m.

By Chuck Livingston