Tigers Pull Away For Win Over Hornets

By Clint Cox

The Malone Tigers baseball team went head to head with county rival Cottondale and after a see-saw affair pulled away in the seventh inning for a 10-5 victory. Malone had taken an early lead only to see the Hornets battle back and take a lead as well tie the game twice. But the Tigers exploded for five runs in the top of the seventh inning and then brought in their closer Jeffery Pittman to shut down the Hornets and seal the deal.

Malone jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Blake Henson reached on a Cottondale error and later scored on a balk. Cottondale took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the second inning as Drew Bellamy singled and advanced to third base on a double by Aaron O’Bert. Bellamy came home to score on a fielder’s choice and then Caleb Toole stroked a RBI single to score O’Bert. Malone fired right back to reclaim the lead in the top of the third when Pittman singled and he was brought home on a two run home run by Henson. Cottondale fired right back themselves with a run in the bottom of the third as Ryan Morrisey walked and later scored on a wild pitch. That tied the game at 3-3.

Malone broke the tie the next inning as Nick Breeden reached on an error and scored on a sacrifice bunt by Sean Henry. The Tigers pushed the lead to 5-3 in the fifth inning when Henson scored on a RBI single from Derek Orshall. Cottondale would not go away though and battled back with a run in both the fifth and sixth innings. In the fifth Chris Clemmons scored on a Malone error and then Patrick McSwain sent one deep over the left field fence to tie the game at 5-5.

The top of the fifth proved to be the difference in the game as Malone loaded the bases up on walks and hit batsmen. Will Dunaway crushed a 2 RBI single to score Pittman and Henson. Derek Orshall scored on a ground ball from Robert Orshall that resulted in a Cottondale error. Dunaway scored on fielder’s choice by Breeden and the Robert Orshall came home on a sacrifice fly from Henry. When the damage was all done Malone was up 10-5. Dunaway had relieved Derek Orshall on the mound back in the fourth inning and then he gave way to Pittman in the seventh. Pittman came in and got the Hornets out three up and three down to secure the win.