Caldwell County split a pair of games at the Big Orange Classic at Marshall County on Saturday to finish 2-1 in that event.
After routing Clayton (Mo.) 15-3 on Friday, the Tigers fell to a good Fort Zumwalt South team of St. Peters, Mo., 6-3 on Saturday afternoon.
The Tigers grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on three-straight singles by Tate VanHooser, Cody Holub and John Davis with two outs.
But Fort Zumwalt South countered with four runs in the bottom of the first. Three of those runs were the result of misplays in the Caldwell outfield.
The Tigers closed the gap to 4-3 in the top of the thirdwhen Holub reached on a two-out singled, then scored when Davis’ drive to left cleared the fence for a two-run shot.
But Caldwell could get no closer. Fort Zumwalt South added insurance tallies in the fourth and sixth innings to make it 6-3.
Each side had eight base hits.
Davis was 3-for-3 and drove in all three Caldwell runs. Holub also went 3-for-3.
Davis went the first five innings on the mound for the Tigers and suffered the loss. He allowed three earned runs on seven base hits while striking out four and walking three.
Caldwell bounced back from its first loss of the season by outscoring Mayfield 10-6.
The Tigers (3-1) never trailed in that game after putting up four runs in each of the first two innings. However, Mayfield (1-2) made things interesting late before Caldwell held on.
Holub slammed a two-run home run to left as part of Caldwell’s two-run first. He singled home two more runs in the top of the second to help the Tigers take an 8-2 lead.
Caldwell went up 9-2 in the third when Gabe East doubled and scored on a triple to right by Easton Thompson.
But Mayfield chipped away at the margin.
Caldwell led 10-4 in the top of the fifth when Deontaye Walls doubled home Logan Smiley, who had walked.
The Cardinals scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to get within 10-6.
Mayfield then loaded the bases with one out in the seventh to get the potential tying run to the plate. However, Holub struck out the next two batters to end the game.
VanHooser started on the mound for the Tigers and picked up the pitching victory. He allowed three earned runs on just one hit through four innings. VanHooser struck out five and walked four. Smiley pitched the fifth and sixth for the Tigers before Holub took over in the seventh.
Holub was 2-for-4 at the plate with four runs batted in. VanHooser, Davis and Brian Owen each added two hits for the Tigers, who outhit Mayfield 12-7.
The Tigers return home on Tuesday for an important 7th District matchup against Madisonville-North Hopkins at the VFW Ballpark in Princeton.
