The Ethel Tigers appeared headed for an easy series against Richton but ended up in a dog fight with the Rebels.
Ethel won 11-3 in game 1 of the series but then lost 10-8 in 10 innings to the Rebels on Friday night. But the Tigers bounced back on Saturday and took a 4-1 win and clinch the series.
Ethel improves to 19-11 on the season and will face Taylorsville in the third round of the Class 1A playoffs.
Ethel 11, Richton 3
The Tigers used a pair of big innings to break open a scoreless game and take an eight-run win over the Rebels on Tuesday.
The first four innings were scoreless before Ethel scored six runs in the fifth. Richton then scored three in the sixth to cut the lead in half at 6-3. Ethel then pulled away and scored five runs in the sixth for the final margin.
Ethel outhit Richton 11-3 in the contest. Brady White was 3-for-4 while Gabe Cain was 3-for-5 with a double and two runs scored. Wes Bishop was 2-for-4 while Ethan Bishop was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Kameron Fortenberry singled and scored two runs while Eli Ramage singled and drove in two runs.
Colin White started on the mound and pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up three unearned runs on two hits while striking out eight. Kaden Adams pitched the last 1 1/3 innings and gave up one hit and struck out one.
Richton 10, Ethel 8
The Rebels needed 10 innings but took a two-run win over the Tigers on Friday.
Ethel scored one in the first while Richton scored four in the first and two in the second and led 5-1. Ethel went back ahead with five in the fourth while Richton answered with two in the fifth and led 7-6. Ethel scored one in the seventh to send the game into extra innings. After a scoreless eighth and ninth inning, Ethel scored one in the top of the 10th, the Rebels scored three in the bottom of the frame on a three-run home run to take the win.
Ethel outhit Richton 9-8 in the contest. Gabe Cain was 2-for-4 with a double while Wes Bishop was 2-for-5 with a double and two RBIs. Colin White was 2-for-4 while Kadan Adams scored twice. Brady White, Kameron Fortenberry and Hunter Hutchison each singled and scored.
Adams started on the mound and pitched 1/3 of an inning, giving up four runs on one hit and one walk. Cain finished the first inning and have up one run on two hits and two walks. Brady White pitched the next inning while Bishop pitched the last 7 1/3 innings and gave up five runs on five hits with 10 strikeouts.
Ethel 4, Richton 1
The Tigers bounced back from Friday night’s marathon loss to take a three-run win over the Rebels on Saturday and take the series.
Ethel scored single runs in the first and second innings and led 2-0. Richton scored one in the fourth to cut the lead to 2-1 before Ethel added single runs in the fifth and sixth innings.
Ethel outhit Richton 5-4 in the contest and had seven walks. Wes Bishop was 2-for-3 while Brady White doubled and scored. Colin White singled and scored while Kaden Adams singled and drove in a run.
Adams started on the mound and pitched 4 1/3 innings, giving up one unearned run on two hits while striking out three. White pitched 2 2/3 innings and gave up two hits and struck out five.
