5-8-2010 vs. Harrisburg Bulldogs
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Wildcats Lose Tight One to Undefeated Harrisburg
The Normal West Wildcats had their opportunities to give Harrisburg their first loss of the season in the semifinals of the O’Fallon/Troy Triad Baseball Classic Saturday at Blazier Field in O’Fallon, but couldn’t quite pull it off. The 4-2 loss for the Wildcats dropped the overall record to 20-6 and ended a 16 game winning streak while raising Harrisburg to 31-0.
The Wildcats took an early lead against Bulldog ace Reid Roper in the 1st inning. Michael Collins drew a one out walk and stole second base. Brock Stewart singled off the first baseman’s glove to put runners on the corners before Jason Cullen got hit by a pitch. Jacob Birlingmaier then got hit in the back as well to bring home Collins, but the Wildcats couldn’t capitalize with any more. In the 2nd inning, Tyler Emmerson singled off the pitcher and moved up on an Adam Seifert sacrifice bunt. Kyle Vaughn lined to center field for a single, putting runners on the corners before a Collins walk loaded the bases. Stewart then drove in Emmerson with a ground ball fielder’s choice to give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead.
Tyler Emmerson started on the mound for the Wildcats and got through the first three innings untouched, with the help of some excellent defense. Wes Sery started two 5-4-3 double plays and a third force out at second on a great backhand play, as well as getting a force at third base to end an inning. In the 4th, after a double and a walk, the only error on the game hurt the Wildcats. A sacrifice bunt was thrown into the right field corner, allowing both runners to score and the bunter to third base. Emmerson, though, got a strike out, ground ball back to himself and pop up to limit further damage.
In the 5th inning, the Bulldogs threatened with a one-out walk and a single before Emmerson was lifted for Kyle Vaughn. After walking the first batter, Vaughn got out of the bases loaded jam by inducing a ground ball to Sery for a force at the plate and a pop foul that he caught himself. In the 6th, though, a Cain Sheldon drive to the short right field fence just got over to put the Bulldogs up 3-2. They tacked on one in the 7th inning, before the Wildcats threatened in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Collins got hit by a pitch and Brock Stewart hit one deep to left center that looked like it might go out, but landed at the fence for a double. Unfortunately, Roper struck out the last two Wildcats to end the game.
Emmerson pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowed 2 unearned runs on four hits with four walks and two strikeouts. Kyle Vaughn took the loss, giving up one run on one hit and two walks with a strikeout in his 1 1/3 innings. Erik Sipes finished for the Wildcats, going 1 1/3 innings with a run on one hit and two walks.
Stewart led the Wildcats with two hits, including a double, while he and Birlingmaier drove in runs.
The Wildcats will face O’Fallon in the third place game later today.