The Tullahoma High School baseball team won their third straight game Wednesday 12-3 over Giles County.
The win moved the ‘Cats to 12-4 overall on the season and 3-0 in district play.
Tullahoma won with superb pitching and two explosive offensive innings. Jayron Morris started on the mound for the ‘Cats and threw four innings allowing just four hits and gave up zero earned runs. All three runs scored by the Bobcats were unearned. Morris struck out eight batters. Ben Quick relived Morris in the fifth and finished out the last three innings. He allowed just one baserunner and that was via a walk. Quick struck out four of the 10 batters faced.
The Wildcats got on the board first with a patient inning in the box, taking seven walks. The team took 10 walks all game. Colton Emory and Baylan Tuten started the inning with back to back walks. Mason Batcher then singled to load the bases for Hunter Hogan who picked up an RBI on another walk. Phillip Lemmon and Trevor Cole also walked to pick up an RBI each and make it 3-0, with the bases still loaded and no outs. Hogan scored during the next at bat on a wild pitch. Andrew Fulmer worked a full count walk to reload the bases. Giles County made a pitching change, the new pitcher’s first pitch was a wild pitch that scored Lemmon. He got an out, then Evan Tomlin singled to score Cole. Emory was back up at the plate and took another walk to load the bases again. Tuten hit a ground ball that turned into a 2-RBI fielder’s choice. The Bobcats tried to turn two and get out of the inning but Tuten beat out the throw to first. Fulmer scored easily and heads up base running by the ‘Cats allowed Tomlin to score from second. Tuten stole second base to get into scoring position but was thrown out stealing third to end the inning with Tullahoma now up 8-0.
The ‘Cats did not plate another run until the fifth inning when Bratcher singled to score Tuten from second. Tuten walked to start the inning and then stole second. Hogan then singled to center. Bratcher hustled into third and Hogan advanced to second on the throw to put runners at second and third with no outs. With one out, Cole singled into left field to score both runners and go up 11-3. He advanced to second on the throw in. Later in the inning Morris doubled on a line drive, scoring Cole from second. Â
Tullahoma only had seven hits during the game, Bratcher led the way with the only multi-hit game with a pair of singles. Morris had the only extra base hit with his double in the fifth. Tomlin, Hogan, Lemmon and Cole had the other hits. Cole, Hogan, Tuten and Emory drew two walks each. Fulmer and Lemmon took the other two base on balls for the Wildcats.
The ‘Cats hosted Lexington Catholic on Thursday and had the winning streak snapped by a 3-2 loss. Tullahoma held the Knights to one hit, but an error, a hit batter and four walks in the top of the fourth led to three runs. Bratcher threw four innings without allowing a hit and struck out seven batters. Lukas Taylor relieved him and finished the game. He struck out six of the 10 batters he faced. The offense cooled off, only getting on base eight times. They had five hits and three walks. Morris had two of the hits, including a double in the first inning. Tomlin had his only hit of the night right after that to pick up an RBI. Emory had a hit to lead off the fourth for the ‘Cats. Bratcher doubled to put two runners in scoring position with one out. Tullahoma was unable to plate either runner. Tomlin, Hogan and Cole drew the three walks.
The Wildcats next game is Monday when they will host Lawrence County at 6:30 p.m.
