Franklin County's Brayden Henley swings at a pitch in this file photo from earlier in the season. Henley had two hits and three RBIs for the Rebels Saturday in their 9-6 loss at Shelbyville Central High School.
The Franklin County Rebels lost to the Shelbyville Central Golden Eagles 9-6 on the road Saturday for their 11th loss of the season.
The teams traded the lead a few times early in the game with the Golden Eagles pulling away in the fifth inning to beat the Rebels.
The Rebels scored the first run of the contest with Braden Jackson reaching base on an error and later coming around to score on a fielder’s choice from Brayden Henley in the top of the first.
However, the Golden Eagles scored one run each in the bottom half of the first and second innings to take an early 2-1 lead.
The Rebels flipped the scoreboard in the top of the third as Talon Abraham drew a leadoff walk and Jackson and Casen Gilliam hit singles to load the bases before Sam Vincent got hit by a pitch to bring in a game-tying run.
Henley followed with an RBI single a few pitches later, and Gilliam scored on a wild pitch to give Franklin County a 4-2 advantage early.
That lead would last until the bottom of the fourth when the Golden Eagles scored a pair of runs to tie the score, and a five-run fifth inning from Shelbyville put the Rebels in a 9-4 hole late.
Henley hit an RBI single and Vincent scored on a throwing error in the top of the seventh to cut into the deficit, but the Rebels weren’t able to add any more runs before the final out as they lost by three.
Josiah Cullins pitched the first two innings for the Rebels with three strikeouts, three hits, one earned run and one unearned run allowed.
Gilliam pitched the next two innings in relief with two strikeouts, one hit, two walks, one earned run and one unearned run allowed.
Jacob Hardison followed with one inning pitched, four hits, one walk, two earned runs and three unearned runs allowed, and Boston Benson recorded one inning pitched with one strikeout, one hit and no runs allowed to end the contest.
With the loss, the Rebels moved to 7-11 on the season.
They will next play Monday at Giles County High School. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.