In preparation for the final week of the regular season, with a playoff berth still up for grabs, the Brownwood Lions challenged Lubbock Trinity in a doubleheader at Morris Southall Field Saturday, falling 6-4 in the first game and 9-7 in nine innings in the nightcap.
In Saturday’s second game, the Lions scored the first three runs, Trinity (22-13) chalked up the next five, the Lions regained a 7-5 edge with a four-run fifth inning, Trinity knotted the score in the top of the seventh, and scored the decisive runs in the ninth inning.
Trailing 5-3 in the the fifth, the Lions began the inning with a double down the third base line by Jakob Hataway, a bunt single by Case Markham and an RBI single from Cole Miller that trimmed the deficit to 5-4. Logan Posey then delivered a two-RBI triple to left field that pushed the Lions in front, 6-5. Campbell Gilmore later reached on a Trinity error, and an errant throw on a pickoff attempt at first base allowed Salinas, running for Posey, to score the seventh run.
The Lions jumped out to 3-0 with a single run in the first inning as Markham reached on a fielder’s choice and came home on an RBI ground out by Miller. In the second inning, Gilmore walked and David Turner reached on a bunt single, and both scored later in the frame on an RBI fielder’s choice by Quentin McCarty, coupled with an error on the play.
McCarty, Aidan Turner, Posey and Miller shared time on the mound for Brownwood and combined to yield eight hits, walk eight batters and strike out seven and leave 12 base runners stranded. The Lions defense committed four errors.
In the opener, the Lions trailed from start to finish but remained within striking distance throughout.
Down 3-0 heading to the bottom of the third inning, the Lions crept within a run as Tristan Salinas led off with a single, Markham reached on a two-out base hit, and Miller and Posey followed with consecutive RBI singles to left field.
Trinity stretched its lead to 6-2 in the fourth inning, but the Lions crept within 6-3 in the bottom of the fourth as Salinas walked with two outs and came home on an RBI single by Hataway, which followed a double by Justin Valdez.
The Lions’ final run of the opener crossed the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning as Markham walked to begin the inning and scored on Turner’s two-out RBI single to center field.
On the mound, Kyle Ivy, Gilmore, Markham, and Turner saw work and gave up nine hits, struck out eight, walked two and left six base runners stranded.
The District 6-4A second-place Lions (8-15-1, 5-5) host first-place Stephenville (16-6-2, 8-2) at 7 p.m. Tuesday, then visits at 7 p.m. Friday in an effort to secure a playoff berth in the final week of the regular season.
