From The Tribune staff reports
SPRINGVILLE — The Tigers split a doubleheader with Hueytown here on Saturday, March 26, dropping the opener 7-2, but coming back to win the second game, 3-1.
Game 1
Springville baseball file photo by Ron Burkett.
Hueytown put five runs on the board in the final four innings and stymied Springville for six scoreless innings in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday, as the Golden Gophers won 7-2 here on March 26.
Hueytown’s Alton Davis drilled a two-out single in the top of the first to score Zach Hill to go up 1-0, and then Silas Amick singled to score Hill again in the third to make it 2-0.
The Tigers got on the board in the bottom of the third when Caleb McCarty got things started with an infield single, and then Zach Brown singled to center to put two men on base. McCarty flashed his speed, making it to third. The back-to-back hits were enough to convince Hueytown to change pitchers, bringing in Daniel Watkins in relief of John Pickens.
Ethan Davis got on base with a walk, and the bags were full of Tigers with no one out. Jacob Neal hit a sacrifice fly to score McCarty, and then Trey Bessiere singled to bring in Brown. After three, the game was tied 2-2.
Hueytown added two runs in the fourth and another in the fifth before adding a final pair of scores in the top of the seventh to make it a 7-2 final.
Asa Morrison took the loss for the Tigers, pitching four innings and allowing five hits and four runs. Morrison struck out three, walked one, and hit one batter.
Game 2
Springville put three runs on the board in the fifth inning behind strong pitching from Payne Bryan, who went for three innings and allowed one run, while Jordan Nichols threw two innings in relief. Caleb McCarty started on the mound for the Tigers, lastiing two innings and allowing two hits and keeping the Golden Gophers scoreless.
The Tigers got on the board in the bottom of the fifth when Tyler Harrison started things off with a line-drive triple to left field. Harrison scored on a passed ball to put Springville up 1-0. From there, Tanner Oakes walked. McCarty bunted Oakes over to first, and then Zach Brown hit an infield single to get aboard.
Ethan Davis singled to load the bases, and Jacob Neal got the RBI on an infield hit to keep the bases loaded and make it 2-0, Tigers. Bryan then stepped into the batter’s box and took one for the team, as he got on base by being hit with a pitch.
That made it 3-0 Springville, and that was enough.
Hueytown attempted a rally in the top of the sixth, scoring one run, but it the Tigers put the comeback bid to bed to take the split on the day.
Ashton Parker took the loss on the mound for Hueytown.
