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Garner hadn't advanced to the second round of the State Playoffs since 2004, but that all changed on Thursday night as they defeated the Middle Creek Mustangs on the road 6-4 to advance round two of the playoffs where they will face the Millbrook Wildcats.
The Trojans got on the board first in the opening frame as Paco Martin doubled with one out. Then, Ricky Martin had a long battle at the plate before sending a double to left center field to drive in his cousin and give the Trojans a 1-0 lead.
It would remain 1-0 until the third when Garner struck again as Jeremy Conyers walked to start the inning and was sacrificed to second by Paco Martin and Hunter Brown drove Conyers in to make it 2-0 Garner.
Each team scored in the fourth as Garner opened the scoring with two outs Conyers reached on an error and stole second before P. Martin drove him with a double to left. Middle Creek got their first run off Jacob Baker in the fourth as with two outs Chase Martin reached on a error and Eric Florin drove him in with a double.
The Trojans got yet another run in the fifth on an RBI single by Pat Monahan and after Middle Creek got a run in the fifth the two teams went to the seventh with Garner leading 5-2.
Garner got an insurance run in the top of the seventh when Dillon Creech led off the inning with a home run off the scoreboard in left. It would turn out Garner would need the insurance as Middle Creek struck for two runs in the bottom of the seventh off Garner relief pitching, but Hunter Brown came in and threw two pitches to get the save for the Trojans as they are off to round two.
GAR 6 13 1
MC 4 7 2
Winning Pitcher: Jacob Baker - 5 Innings, 3 Hits, 1 Run, 0 Earned Runs, 1 Walk, 1 Hit Batter, 6 Strikeouts
Losing Pitcher: Matt Drisko - 4 1/3 Innings, 9 Hits, 4 Runs, 3 Earned Runs, 2 Walks, 4 Strikeouts
Save: Hunter Brown - 1/3 Innings, 0 Hits, 0 Runs, 0 Walks, 0 Strikeouts
Leading Hitters: GAR: P. Martin 3-3 (2 1B, 2B, RBI), Brown 2-4 (2 1B, RBI), Creech 2-4 (1B, HR), Monahan 2-4 (2 1B)
Trojans Send Mustangs Up the Creek Without a Paddle; Advance to Round Two
