Marshall County’s Jordan Riley slammed a grand slam to left-center in the top of the fifth inning and the Marshals went on to claim a 5-3 decision at Caldwell County in baseball action on Monday.
The Tigers outhit Marshall 6-5 but couldn’t overcome the big blast.
Caldwell, now 10-10, took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI single to center by John Davis.
However, the Tigers had runners at second and third with just one out, but failed to score again.
Marshall, which improved to 20-4, tied things in the third on a two-out single to center by Gage Griggs.
The Marshals were helped out in the top of the fifth when Caldwell misplayed a pair of grounders on the infield. A walk then loaded the bases for Riley, who unloaded them to give Marshall a 5-1 advantage.
Caldwell tried to answer in the bottom of the fifth. Easton Thompson walked then Logan Smiley doubled down the right-field line to put the first two batters on base. Gabe East singled home one run to make it 5-2, then another run came in on a groundout by Oliver Parker to cut the Marshall lead to 5-3.
Caldwell loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the sixth but a ground out to third ended the threat.
Griffen Ives picked up the win on the mound for the Marshals, going the first five innings and allowing three earned runs on six hits. Brock Anderson pitched the final two innings without surrendering a hit to earn the save.
East suffered the loss on the hill for the Tigers. He allowed four earned runs on four base hits while striking out three and walking five.
East was the only player in the game to record more than one base hit, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Cody Holub and Smiley each had doubles for the Tigers.
Isaiah Neeble added a double for Marshall.
