WEB CAST.
Garner hit the road again on Saturday for the final day of the Four Oaks Bank Tri-9 Challenge as they traveled to Apex to take on the Cougars who like the Trojans were 2-0 on the weekend. Saturday's contest had a little bit of everything, but when it was all said and done, the Trojans came away with a 9-8 win.
The Trojans got things started from the word go as the first three Garner hitters singled as the first run of the game came home when CJ Schmitt singled home Jesse Fisher and the Trojans were off and running. After Brett Bailey singled to left and scored Alec Hulmes Garner added two more runs and after one inning it was 4-0 Trojans.
Apex scored their first run of the game in the bottom of the second to cut the Trojan lead to three, but it didn't take long for Garner to answer as they plated four more runs in the third.
Alec Hulmes led off the inning and blasted the Ben Serri pitch over the left field fence for his third home run of the year. But, not to be out done, CJ Schmitt was the next Trojan hitter and Schmitt smashed the Scerri pitch to left center field for his fifth home run of the year. Garner would go on to add two more runs in the inning thanks to a couple of Apex errors and a big RBI single from Jared Newbry and after three the Trojans had a 8-1 lead.
However, the Trojans became a bit complacent on offense and allowed Apex to get back into the game as the Cougars put up three runs in the third and in the sixth they found a way to tie the game.
With three runs already crossing the plate, Apex found themselves down by just one with the tying run on third and that's when Garner brought Jacob Baker in to pitch and hopefully close the deal.
Baker was working from the wind up and as a result, Nick Smith broke for home and slid in just ahead of the tag for a steal of home and tie the game at eight. With a two ball two strike count on Keaton Oaks, Garner was looking to get out of the inning, but Oaks had other ideas as he lined the pitch to the gap in right center field, that's when Brett Walters got on his horse and leaped high into the air to make an outstanding catch to keep the score tied heading to the final inning.
In the seventh, Matt Powell led things off as he pinch hit and line a double down the left field line, but as Jacob Baker came to the plate and laid down the bunt, but he bunted it back to the pitcher and the Apex reliever, Bo McMillian fired back to third and got Powell trying to go for third.
Garner brought Matt Hawley in to run for Baker at first and following a base hit by Jared Newbry and a walk to Alec Hulmes, the Trojans had the bases loaded with two outs with CJ Schmitt coming to the plate.
With a three ball one strike count on Schmitt, Bo McMillian fired home a pitch that Garner thought was a bit low and as a result, Hawley began making his way to the plate, but the Apex catcher, Harry Voorhees fired down to third and got Hawley in a run down.
Matt broke for the plate and dove for the plate and as Voorhees attempted to apply the tag the ball slipped out of his glove and Hawley slid in safely with the ninth Garner run of the game.
The Trojans were leading by one going to the bottom of the seventh as Baker came back out for the inning. Baker got the first man swinging for out number one. That was followed by Dylan Edwards who lined a base hit to right field, Brett Walters had a great idea and tried to dive to catch the ball but it was just out of his reach allowing Edwards to make to third base with a triple and now Apex had the tying run just 90 feet away.
That's when the Trojan pitcher bared down and got the next two hitters to swing and miss on three strikes and Garner held on for a 9-8 victory and a 3-0 record on the weekend.
Garner (5-9) is back in action on Tuesday night when they travel to Millbrook for a 7:00 first pitch. This will be an endowment game for both teams and no JV game will be played.
GAR 9 13 5
APX 8 15 4
Winning Pitcher: Jacob Baker - 1 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Losing Pitcher: Bo McMillian - 1 2/3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 2 K
Trojans Hold Off Cougar Rally for Third Consecutive Win
