Tigers Punch Ticket To Regionals

PRAIRIE GROVE DOWNS BERRYVILLE 8-1

LINCOLN -- Prairie Grove punched its ticket to Regionals Friday by beating Berryville, 8-1, during the 4A-1 District baseball tournament at Lincoln.

Berryville starter Rusty Colbert was worse for wear after the second inning. After giving up a leadoff single to Tiger catcher Couper Allen and hitting Clay Fidler with a pitch, Colbert was hit by a line drive and had to come out. Prairie Grove scored a run on the play to earn a 1-1 tie and the complexion of the game changed.

Austin Woods came on in relief and Prairie Grove scored four more runs in the inning to go ahead, 5-1. Cole Simmons produced an RBI off a bunt single to give Prairie Grove the lead and the Tigers never looked back. James Birmingham stroked a two run double and Silas Myane followed that with a walk. A throwing error allowed another Tiger run to score.

Prairie Grove added three more runs in the fourth. With Drew Cates batting a passed ball surrendered a run, then Cates hit the eighth pitch of the duel to drive in a run. With two outs, Chase Wade singled into right center field to extend the lead to 8-1.

The Tigers enjoyed hits up and down the lineup.

Jadin Higgins was 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs and 1 run scored. Cates was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Simmons was 1-for-3 with an RBI.

Higgins pitched 5 innings, allowing only 1 hit and 1 base-on-balls to earn the win. He recorded 6 strike-outs. Chase Wade came on in relief, allowing 1 run on 1 hit and striking out three.

Sports on 05/02/2018