Rams best Jags in extra inning walk-off, 7-6

The Northridge Jaguars and Northside Rams battled it out on Saturday afternoon at Tuscaloosa County. The Jags scored one run in the top of the seventh and the defense held to take the game to extra innings. Northridge took a one run lead in the top of the eighth, only to see the Rams claim the win on a walk-off single with two outs in the bottom of the inning, for the 7-6 win.

After the Jags went scoreless in the top of the first inning, the Rams put two runs on the board. And, after two more quiet innings, Northside added one more run for a 3-0 lead.

The Jags warmed up and put three runs on the board in the top of the fifth. With one out, Sawyer Thompson singled to center. Miller Arendale was hit by pitch. Mayson Elam followed with a single to center, loading the bases for Northridge. After the Jags’ second out, Thompson scored via a wild pitch. Wyatt Rath was gifted a free base on balls, loading the bases again for the Jags. Thompson scored on a wild pitch for the Jags’ first run of the game. Arendale scored on a passed ball on the next pitch and Mayson Elam scored the third run on a double steal when Rowdy Christensen (courtesy runner for Rath) stole second. A strikeout ended the inning, but Northridge had pulled even with Northside at 3-3.

The Rams picked up two runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 5-3 lead. The Jags responded with a run in the top of the sixth when Grayson Cannon scored after drawing a walk and moving to third on a long fly ball to center from Kyle Nunnally to bring the Jags within one run at 5-4.

In the top of the seventh, the Jags tied things up when Elam scored from second on a Rath double to center. After knotting the score at 5-5, Northridge held the Rams scoreless in the bottom of the seventh, providing the fans with some free baseball.

The Jags took a one run lead in the top of the eighth inning. Thompson was plunked and stole second on the second pitch of Brock Story’s at-bat. Three pitches later, Story singled to move Thompson to third. Arendale, in as a courtesy runner for Story, stole second and, following a ground out, Thomas Woolf picked up a walk, loading the bases with two outs. Aiden Avery drew a walk on five pitches, scoring Thompson. That would be the Jags’ final run of the game.

The Rams scored one run with one out and eventually loaded the bases. Northridge secured the second out of the inning via a Northside strikeout, but the first pitch to the next Rams’ batter found its way into left field, plating the game winning run and the final score of 7-6, in favor of Northside.

Elam, Rath and Nunnally picked up two hits each for the Jags. Thompson and Story added one hit each. Rath, Avery and Thompson were credited with one RBI each. Elam and Thompson each crossed the plate twice. Cannon and Arendale scored one run each.

Four Jags’ spent time on the mound, with Evan Malone getting the start. Malone completed two inning, striking out three and walking one, while giving up two runs on three hits. Burns Brumfield served three innings, walking three and surrendering three runs on four hits. Adam Hall spent 2-1/3 innings on the hill, striking out two and walking one, while giving up two runs on three hits. Ellis Tucker recorded one-third of an inning, striking out one and walking one.