SENATOBIA—The Diamond Tigers dropped a pair to the Northwest Rangers in Senatobia Tuesday despite strong starts from starters Dustin Allen and Adam McPhail. The two of them let across just 3 ER in a combined 11 innings, but CCC still fell 5-2 and 1-0.
The Tigers gave Allen an early lead in Game 1, with Adam Cook picking up an RBI and Wesley Dew and Zach Morris both tallying runs in the first frame. The lead was short lived though, as the CCC defense committed 2 errors behind Allen in his first trip to the hill, leading to 3 NWCC runs.
The Tiger bats threatened but could not break through for the rest of Game 1. The team twice left the bases loaded and stranded 9 total. NWCC starter Landon McFadden (5 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K) put up similar numbers to Allen (5 IP, 4 R, 2 ER, 4 K, 3 BB) but in the end, he was the one picking up the victory, his 1st of 2015.
Hudson Ross had 3 hits, all singles, to pace the Tiger offense. Caleb Lindsey extended his hitting streak to 3 game consecutive games with a bunt base hit in the 4th.
Game 2 was another southpaws' duel, with lefties Jonathan Lindsey and Adam McPhail matching each other salvo for salvo. Lindsey (6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K) allowed just one base runner until the 6th and carried a no-hitter into the 7th. McPhail (6 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 K, 1 BB) was able to escape multiple tight situations to preserve a shutout until the penultimate frame, when Casey took him out of the yard for a homerun.
The Tigers got one last chance to even the score and seemed on the verge of doing so until a controversial call derailed the rally.
The comeback attempts was started by Wesley Dew and Hudson Ross, who broke up Lindsey's no-hit bid by singling to lead off the inning and send the Ranger starter from the game.
Lindsey was relieved by Koby Busby, who faced off against Zach Morris with no outs on the board. Morris dropped a gorgeous sac bunt down that appeared destined to move pinch runners TJ Knowles and Luis Colon both into scoring position.
But it was not to be.
Busby came off the mound, fielded the bunt and made a gutsy throw to 3rd base. Knowles appeared to clearly beat the throw, but was ruled out by the field umpire. The controversial call, met with chagrin by the Coahoma coaching staff and fans, prevented the Tigers from loading the bases. The next CCC batter, Darian Bester, bounced into a double play, giving the game to NWCC.
The loss sent the Tigers to 1-15 on the season and 1-5 in conference play. It was their 3rd 1-run loss in 2015. McPhail, despite turning in his best performance of the year, dropped his 2nd contest of the season. The victory was the 10th of the year for the Rangers.
CCC gets back to action Thursday in Little Rock vs. Arkansas Baptist. First pitch vs. the Buffaloes will be thrown at 1 pm.
Look for a livestream on coahomasports.com and mixlr.com/jzanaboni.
