The Brownwood Lions bounced back from a heart-breaking one-run extra-inning loss to District 6-4A front-runner Stephenville with their biggest offensive output of the season Saturday afternoon, rolling to a 17-7 non-district win over Mineral Wells at Morris Southall Field.
Trailing 7-2 heading to the bottom of the second inning, the Lions (4-9-1, 1-3) scored the game’s last 15 runs – including seven in the third inning to surge in front, 9-7.
Brownwood scored in all five innings it batted and finished with 15 hits as a team, drew nine walks, one batter was hit by a pitch and Mineral Wells committed an error. The Lions’ previous high-water mark for runs came in their March 18 district win over Gatesville, 12-5.
Offensive standouts for the Lions included Case Markham with three hits, including a triple, and four RBIs; Gavin Brandstetter with two hits, both doubles, and five RBIs; Jakob Hataway, who tripled, and Justin Valdez with three hits and one RBI apiece; Cole Miller with two hits, including a double, and three RBIs; Campbell Gilmore with one hit and three RBIs; and Tristan Salinas with a single.
On the mound, David Turner tossed four innings of relief to earn the win, allowing three runs on four hits with five strikeouts and one walk. Logan Posey started and worked an inning, giving up four runs on four hits with one walk.
Down 3-0 after half an inning, the Lions scored twice in the bottom of the first on an RBI double by Brandstetter that plated Hataway, who tripled, and Miller, who walked, came home on the throw.
Trailing 7-2 in the bottom of the second, Hataway doubled home Valdez, who singled; Markham singled home Hataway and Jordyn Nickerson, who walked; Brandstetter reached on an error that brought in Markham; Gilmore delivered the go-ahead two-RBI single that plated Miller and Brandstetter; and a Valdez single allowed Gilmore to come home.
The Lions tacked on their 10th run in the third, boosting the lead to 10-7, as Miller doubled home Hataway, who singled.
Brownwood stretched the lead to 14-7 in the fourth as Miller was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score Valdez, who singled; Brandstetter doubled to bring in both Hataway, who walked, and Markham, who singled; and Gilmore drew another bases-loaded free pass that plated Miller.
In the fifth inning, the Lions added their final three runs to enforce the 10-run mercy rule as Markham tripled to drive in Nickerson and Hataway, who both walked; and Miller followed with an RBI sacrifice fly that scored Markham.
The Lions resume District 6-4A action at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Glen Rose, then turn around and host the Tigers at 7 p.m. Friday at Morris Southall Field.
