CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Bouncing back from getting "mercy-ruled" the night before, Bradley Central captured an exciting extra-inning victory on Senior Night, Tuesday at Joe Adams Field.
Rallying from a 5-0 deficit after 3 1/2 innings, the Bears rallied clawed back for a 7-6 win over visiting Boyd Buchanan in eight innings.
"Great come back late and nice to gain some momentum going into our district series Thursday," proclaimed Bradley head coach Travis Adams. "Proud of the work these seniors have poured into our program and look forward to the postseason with them!"
Comiing in as the third seed, the Bears (14-16-1, 5-4) will open the District 6-4A Tournament Thursday evening in a best-of-3 series at No.
2-seed East Hamilton (18-14, 6-3). The teams will also play Friday evening and again Saturday afternoon, if necessary.
Top-seeded Ooltewah (20-9-1, 8-1) will entertain Howard (6-18, 0-9) in the other 6-4A semifinal series, with the championship game set for Monday, at the home of the higher seed.
BEARS 7, BUCS 6 (8): After a pair of scoreless frames to open the contest, Boyd Buchanan (12-12-1) jumped on top with trio of scores in the top of the third, including a RBI-double by Brody Lowe, for the game's lone extra-base hit.
The Bucs also scored on a Bear error and a squeeze bunt by Aaron Hise, to plate Xavier Hamby, who had reached on the miscue, then stole second and third.
The visitors added two more runs in the fourth when Logan Martin brought home Caden Henry, who had walked to open the inning. Bo Evans plated Hudson Speares, who had been "plunked," with a sac fly.
Bradley finally got the goose egg off the bottom of the scoreboard with a solo score in the bottom of the fourth on a two-out single by Landon Rogers to plate Jonathan Alomar, who had "walked the line" to open the at bat.
Still down 5-1 going into the bottom of the sixth, the Bears took advantage of five free passes and a single to put up a 5-spot to take the lead.
Spane Bristol and Carson Stott drew back-to-back base on balls to open the rally, then after a strikeout, Rogers and Bronson Stone also worked the Buc reliever for free passes, the latter bring home a run.
Tyler Cook provided the only hit of the streak to bring home another score before Jaden Griffey drew a bases-loaded "freebie."
With the sacks still jammed, Cleveland State signee Jaxon Humble hit into a fielder's choice, but Stone and Cook both raced home on the play.
Another Bradley miscue opened the door for Boyd Buchanan to even the score in the top of the seventh as Kash Watkins reached safely, was bunted to second, swiped third and scored on a wild pitch to force the extra inning.
Rogers came through with the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth, stroking a single and then coming all the way around to score on a Buc throwing error on a ground ball by Stone.
Reaching base three times on a pair of singles and a walk, Rogers scored twice and drove in a run.
Jaden Griffey helped out with a hit and a base on balls, for a "ribbie," while Cook had a run-scoring hit and scored. Bristol got on with a single and a free pass, plus completed the circuit.
After starter Drake Allen tossed a pair of two-hit shutout innings, Bryson Kent was toughed up for three unearned runs in the next two frames.
Stone took the hill for a pair of innings as well, allowing no hits or runs and just one walk before giving way to Bristol, who earned the win giving up a hit and a free pass, plus one unearned run in his two frames on the bump.
Speares tossed the first five frames for Boyd Buchanan, striking out three, walking two, while allowing just one hit and an earned run. Four Buc relievers followed, combining for five Ks, five free passes and a half dozen runs scored five of which were earned.
GAME SUMMARY
Tuesday, April 29
at Joe Adams Field
Boyd Buchanan 003 200 10 — 6 6 1
Bradley Central 000 105 01 — 7 5 3
WP: Spane Bristol 2 IP, 0 K, 1 BB, 1 hit, 0 ER. LP: Will Sessions 0 IP, 0 K, 0 BB 1 hit, 0 ER. 2B: Brody Lowe (BB). RBI: Lowe, Aaron Hise, Logan Martin, Bo Evans (BB); Jaxon Humble 2, Landon Rogers, Bronson Stone, Tyler Cook, Jaden Griffey (BC). RECORDS: Boyd Buchanan 12-12-1; Bradley Central 14-16-1.