Collin Whittington broke up a tie game in the top of the eighth inning with a two-run single, then Logan Smiley blasted a three-run home run to center as the Caldwell County Tigers knocked off University Heights Academy 7-2 Monday in Hopkinsville.
Caldwell lefty Deontaye Walls blanked the Blazers over the final 2.1 innings to pick up the win on the mound after starter Brady Holeman pitched into the sixth inning, allowing just two first-inning runs.
Holeman allowed one earned run on four base hits while striking out one and walking five. Walls gave up no runs on two hits while striking out five and walking none.
UHA (5-14) got a pair of walks to open the bottom of the first inning, leading to the first two runs of the game.
Seth Hancock and Ty Hunt drew free passes. Hancock scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Eston Glover. Hunt came in when Luke Welch grounded into a fielder’s choice at second, giving the Blazers their early 2-0 lead.
Caldwell struck back in the top of the third when singles by Smiley and Walls put runners on the corners with one out. A balk brought in Smiley. Walls scored on a two-out double by Jamus Carneyhan to tie the game at 2-2.
That’s where things stood until the eighth as both teams rode strong starting pitching performances.
Welch struck out 11 in 7.1 innings for UHA. He allowed two earned runs on eight base hits while walking four but still suffered the loss.
Welch got the leadoff man to line out to right in the eighth. But a hit batter, an error and a walk helped Caldwell (6-7) load the bases with one out.
Collin Whittington then followed with a bloop single into left, bringing home two runs and pushing the Tigers in front 4-2.
After another UHA error, Smiley came to the plate with two on and two outs. He hammered a 1-0 pitch over the tall fence in center, giving Caldwell lots of cushion at 7-2.
UHA got a one-out single from John DeArmond in the bottom of the eighth, but Walls struck out the next two Braves to end the game.
Smiley finished 2-for-5 at the plate with the three RBIs and two runs scored for Caldwell. Carneyhan went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI while Carter Whittington was 2-for-4.
UHA did not have anyone with multiple hits.
The Tigers are scheduled to host Henderson County Tuesday with first pitch at 6:00.
The Blazers have dropped nine straight since beating Lyon County 3-1 in the 2nd Region All A Classic. UHA is scheduled to host Union County on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
