ATHENS, Tenn. — The roles were reversed in Game 2 of the District 5-4A Baseball best-of-3 semifinal series Sunday after McMinn County dominated Walker Valley to force a rubber game Monday.
After claiming a 6-1 victory in Game 1 on Thursday, the Mustangs scored just two runs on two hits in the twice-delayed 7-2 loss to the host Cherokees, setting up the win-or-go-home elimination situation Monday evening, back in Athens.
After Walker Valley limited McMinn to just five baserunners Thursday, the Cherokees had four reach in the top of the first inning alone.
However, Herd starter Michael Pledge, who has signed with Milligan University, escaped a bases-loaded jam allowing just one run thanks to back-to-back strikeouts to end that threat.
Owen Sneed singled to lead off the bottom first for the Mustangs, but he was eventually stranded at third after a strikeout.
In the second, the Cherokees once again had action on the bases after a dropped third strike and back-to-back singles loaded the bases.
This time, Walker Valley couldn't limit the damage.
Three singles on the next four at-bats plated four Cherokee runs to break the game open, putting the Herd in a 5-0 hole.
Walker Valley did end up getting a run back in the bottom second, with freshman Zander Neuendorf bringing Cleveland State signee Jordan Smith all the way around from first with a double in the gap.
The 5-1 lead held into the fifth, where McMinn scored two in the top half and Walker Valley one in the bottom after Hayden Harrison drew a one-out base on balls and later scored on an error, giving the game's its 7-2 final score.
Sneed and Neuendorf's aforementioned hits were the only hits of the game for the Mustangs, while Smith earned two free passes, plus Sneed, Torbett and Harrison each walked once.
McMinn knocked the Mustang pitching staff around for 13 hits, with Jack Goodin leading the way in that category with three hits and four runs batted in.
GAME SUMMARY
District 5-4A
Best-of-3
Semifinals
Sunday, May 4
at Athens
McMinn County 140 020 0 — 7 13 3
Walker Valley 010 010 0 — 2 2 2
WP: Kade Hyde 4.1 IP, 5 Ks, 6 BB, 2 hits, 0 ER. LP: Michael Pledge 2 IP, 5 Ks, 1 BB, 7 hits, 4 ER. 2B: Luke Lawson (MC); Zander Neuendorf (WV). RBI: Jack Goodin 4, Auston Fugate 2, Hyde (MC); Neuendorf (WV). RECORDS: Walker Valley 15-17; McMinn County 18-12.