Jags Baseball takes down Sipsey Bears, 9-2

The Northridge Jaguars made the relatively short trip to Buhl to take on the Sipsey Valley Bears. A big, seven run sixth inning proved to be the difference-maker in an otherwise mundane outing for the Jags.

Northridge got on the board in the top of the first inning and was matched by the Bears in the bottom of the inning. John Pruet singled at leadoff for the Jags. After a ground out moved Pruet to second, Evan Malone doubled to right, plating Pruet for the only run of the inning for Northridge. A passed ball allowed Sipsey to tie it up at 1-1 in the bottom of the inning.

The Jags took a one-run lead in the top of the second. Miller Arendale led off with a double to left and Ellis Tucker followed up by being hit by a Sipsey pitch. Arendale advanced to third on a double play. Pruet was safe on a error in the infield and Arendale used the opportunity to cross the plate to give the Jags a 2-1 lead.

Neither team lit the scoreboard again until the top of the sixth, when the Jags rallied for seven runs. Grayson Cannon got things started when he was hit by pitch and promptly stole second. Arendale followed with a walk on a full count. Tucker was safe on a bunt with Cannon advancing to third and Arendale to second. Ford Cole was hit by pitch to send Cannon across the plate (3-1). Pruet’s third at-bat resulted in a walk that scored Arendale (4-1). Mayson Elam’s grounder resulted in an error, allowing Tucker to cross the plate (5-1). Malone’s sacrifice fly to right scored Cole (6-1). After Elam advanced to second without a throw, Wyatt Rath hammered a Sipsey pitch out of the park to center, scoring Pruet and Elam, and giving the Jags a 9-1 lead. Three more batters failed to produce any runs in the top of the sixth.

The Bears were able to manage a single run (9-2) in the bottom of the seventh inning, but the Jags shut the door on Sipsey after that lone run.

Pruet, Malone (2B), Rath (HR), Cannon, Arendale (2B) and Tucker tallied one hit each for the Jags. Rath totaled 3 RBIs and Malone was credited with two RBIs. Elam and Cole had one RBI apiece. Arendale scored two runs on the evening. Elam, Rath, Cannon, Tucker and Cole scored one run each.

Malone got the start on the mound and completed one inning, allowing one run on one hit, while striking out two and issuing one walk. Barron Gatlin contributed five innings of relief, allowing one hit, while striking out six and walking one. Obradovich closed out the final inning, allowing one run on one hit, while striking out two.