Too many errors led to too many runs for the Sulphur Post 179 Drillers in a 13-11 loss to the State Farm Post 1 Dodgers at McMurry Park in Sulphur.
“It was a back and forth ball game to start,” said Drillers manager Robert Henson. “We were just hoping it would swing back our way. But you can’t win when you give up 13 runs.”
The Drillers made eight errors that lead to four unearned runs for the Dodgers.
Sulphur started off the game shaky on defense committing four errors in the first inning leading to only two runs while the Dodgers left the bases loaded.
The Drillers (5-2) answered in the bottom of the first scoring four runs on three hits and two Post 1 errors to take a 4-2 lead after one inning of play.
Post 1 (4-2) regained the lead in the second inning scoring three runs on two hits and another Sulphur error to take a 5-4 lead.
Sulphur put another four runs in the bottom of the second inning lead by a two run double by Paul White to take back the lead with a score of 8-5.
The Drillers extend their lead to 10-5 in the third inning while picking up two runs on four hits.
“We hit the ball well the first two or three innings,” Henson said on the Drillers offense. “But they have a good pitcher and he ended up shutting us down.”
Dodgers’ starting pitcher Hunter Leger took control of the game starting in the fourth inning to hold Sulphur to no runs and no hits through the next three innings.
While the Driller bats were held quiet, Post 1 nipped away at the five run lead of Sulphur.
Leger helped his cause driving in Austin Baca for a run in the fourth inning.
The Dodgers took advantage of two Driller errors in the sixth inning to score three runs on only one Post 1 hit to make the score 10-9, Drillers.
Post 1 took the lead in the top of the seventh to score four runs on four hits lead by a pinch hit two run homer by Kerry Darbone and a RBI triple by Baca to give the Dodgers a 13-10 lead going into the Drillers’ half of the seventh.
Sulphur worked two walks to lead off the bottom of the seventh to give runners at first and second with no outs. Lance Hawkins roped a ball to shallow centerfield and the Dodgers’ center fielder Ryant Piper made a diving catch that saved at least two runners from scoring. Piper then threw the ball to second to record a double play for the Dodgers.
“If he don’t catch that ball, we win the ball game,” Henson said on Pipers’ catch. “That was a (great) play by their center fielder.”
After Blake Rhodes’ fourth hit of the game, Ben Dougherty hit a single to right to score Jacob Theriot to make the final score 13-11, Dodgers.
Rhodes led all hitters going 4-for-4 with four RBI’s and two runs scored. Dougherty added a 3-for-5 effort for Sulphur with two RBI’s and White went 2-for-4 with two RBI’s.
Baca led the Dodgers going 3-for-5 with three RBI’s and five runs scored.
Theriot picked up the loss for the Drillers while pitching four and a third innings in relief. Theriot struck out two batters and walked one while allowing six hits and eight runs.
Leger took the win for the Dodgers with a complete game performance with nine strikeouts and two walks and allowed 11 runs on 13 hits. It was Leger second complete against the Drillers. The first game, Leger allowed just four hits in a 2-0 loss.
According the schedule, the Drillers will play a doubleheader on Thursday against Grand Lake at 4 p.m. and St. Louis-Orange at 6 p.m. on Field 37 in McMurry Park.
Note: Post 179 won the first meeting with the Post 1 Dodgers 2-0 behind a one-hitter by Ryan Cooper.
Sulphur, La. —
