Crittenden County won a pitcher’s duel with University Heights Academy Monday, downing the Blazers 4-3 at Simmons Field to move 10 games above .500 for the season.
UHA’s Luke Welch and Crittenden’s Logan Bailey kept the other teams at bay for most of the contest with neither team able to put distance between the other.
Crittenden struck first on a Trace Adams RBI single in the first inning.
UHA countered in the home half of the third when Ian Tyler walked and was sacrificed to second by J.T. DeArmond. Tyler scored on an infield error on a ball off the bat of Seth Hancock.
Crittenden gained a 3-1 lead on back-to-back RBI doubles by Maddux Carlson and Adams in the fourth inning.
DeArmond answered with an RBI single in the fifth to cut the Rocket lead to 3-2.
The Blazers put runners at first and second base in the sixth inning but a double play ended the UHA threat.
Adams provided some insurance for the Rockets as his third hit of the game was a double to center that scored Bailey who led off the seventh inning with a single.
UHA wouldn’t go down quietly. Ben Stone and Tyler both walked, and DeArmond followed with an infield single that scored pinch runner Ryan Luckey.
Jeremiah Foster shut down the Blazer rally, striking out the final two batters to get the save.
Adams and Bailey each had three hits for Crittenden County [16-6], with Adams driving in three of the four Rocket runs.
DeArmond had two hits and a pair of RBIs for the Blazers, who managed just five hits in the game.
Bailey got the win on the mound for Crittenden County, pitching the first six innings and allowing just one earned run and four hits.
Luke Welch had another strong outing on the mound for the Blazers. He struck out nine and walked just two batters.
UHA [11-17] continues its trip through the 5th District Tuesday with a swing through Smithland to play Livingston Central.
