McCracken County captured a pitchers’ duel at Lyon County Saturday afternoon. The Mustangs nipped the Lyons 2-1 at Jim Boyd Field at Lee S. Jones Park in Eddyville.
Ben Higdon went six strong innings on the mound for third-ranked McCracken.
Austin Long also pitched well for No. 18 Lyon, with each team managing just four base hits in the contest.
McCracken (24-5) put up both of its runs in the top of the third inning. Higdon homered to center with one out to make it 1-0. A pair of Lyon errors then opened the door for Brandon Dodd’s two-out RBI single to right-center to put the visitors up 2-0.
That proved to be enough run support for the Mustang pitching.
Lyon’s Aidan Rush broke up the shutout with one out in the sixth by homering over the left-field fence. That made it 2-1.
A hit by pitch put Corey Cissell on base with still just one out. However, a pinch runner was picked off by Higdon for the second out. Christian O’Daniel followed with a single to center, but then a fly ball to center ended the inning.
Jack Bennett took over on the mound for McCracken in the seventh and retired the Lyons in order to earn the save.
Higdon (4-0) struck out 10 while allowing four hits and two walks for the Mustangs.
Long (4-3) was saddled with the loss on the mound for Lyon despite allowing just one earned run on four hits. He struck out six and walked two in six innings.
Brady Darnall pitched the seventh for Lyon, facing just three batters. He did hit a batter, but that runner was thrown out by catcher Brody Williams trying to steal second.
Lyon has dropped its last two games and is now 20-7.
McCracken and Lyon are the top-rated teams in their respective regions by the KHSAA RPI.
