Charging ‘Cats punt Pats

Charging ‘Cats punt Pats

Marion has just four hits in doubleheader sweep

Sports Editor

The road proved to be unkind for the Marion Patriots on Tuesday night.

Marion dropped decisions of 7-0 and 11-0 to North Little Rock to fall to 0-16 overall and 0-6 in the 7A/6A-East on the season. The Patriots got a 2-3 night from Jackson Wiggins, as well as hit from Alex O’ Brien in the opener, but it wasn’t enough to get Marion into the win column.

Junior Tyler Steele got the start for Marion and went five innings, allowed four hits, six runs but just two earned. He walked three batters, while also striking three out. He was the losing pitcher in the game.

Collin Carpenter pitched the game’s final inning, allowed two hits, and an unearned run.

North Little Rock controlled a 1-0 lead until the bottom of the third inning when the hosts scored three more times, while adding two in the bottom of the fifth and tacked on another one in the bottom of the sixth.

North Little Rock (14-3 overall, 5-1 7A/6A-East) got a complete game from Christian Goshen, who struck out 12 batters and walked only one.

The Charging Wildcats were the away team in the nightcap, and they took advantage of three Marion errors to pick up five runs in the top of the first to set the tone there.

Not helping matters was Marion finishing with just one hit, a Will Skipper fifth-inning single.

Sophomore catcher Peyton McElroy represented the Pats’ only other baserunner when he reached on an error.

Sophomore left-hander Ripp Inman got the start for Marion and last just 2/3 of an inning, allowing six hits, six runs (all earned) and walked two batters.

Senior Ben Vaughn entered in relief and went 3 and 1/3 innings of fourhit, four-run ball while Carpenter pitched a perfect inning of relief, featuring a strikeout.

J.J. Askins was the winning pitcher, lasting five innings and holding Marion to that single hit.

Marion is back in action today when they travel to play Gosnell. The Pats will re-enter league play on Tuesday when they travel to play West Memphis at Tilden Rodgers Sports Complex for a 7A/6A-East doubleheader. First pitch of the initial game is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

By Chuck Livingston