CENTRAL ARKANSAS INVITATIONAL
SYLVAN HILLS 14, SPRINGDALE 6 (6)
Sylvan Hills worked its way out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning, allowing only one run, then scored nine times over the final three innings Thursday for a 14-6 run-rule victory over Springdale in the Central Arkansas Invitational at Mike Bromley Field in Sherwood.
"We're a young team and we're still learning," Sylvan Hills Coach Denny Tipton said. "We try to take advantage of what teams give us and try not to give up a big inning."
The Bears scored twice in their half of the first and added a single run in the second to grab a 3-2 lead after two innings.
The Bulldogs came back in the top of the third, when Will Mueller's single scored Hayden Bersi to make it 3-3. Sylvan Hills pitcher Nick Fakouri got two outs before Alex Bowers followed with another single, scoring Mueller to give the Bulldogs a 4-3 lead.
Sylvan Hills designated hitter Hunter Allen drove in two runs for the Bears in the third inning for a 5-4 lead they would not relinquish.
Ray Young relieved in the fourth and needed only 11 pitches to retire the Bulldogs.
Kyle Clayton was hit by a pitch to open the bottom of the inning for the Bears. A double by Ryan Lumpkin put runners at second and third. A single by Chaz Poppy scored both runners before Fakouri doubled to the gap in right-center to make it 8-4.
Fakouri and Young were both thrown out trying to steal third in the inning, leaving the Bears with their four-run advantage.
"We're going to make some mistakes," Tipton said. "The key is to keep them from scoring that many runs. When we did make a mistake, it didn't hurt us."
Springdale added two runs in its half of the fifth, but the Bears came right back with three in the bottom of the inning.
Sylvan Hills used four hits in the bottom of the sixth, scoring three runs and ending the game via the run rule.
Sports on 03/23/2018