Hiwassee Dam – The Eagles baseball team split their home-and-home series with Cherokee last week, with each team winning a home game.
In the first game of the series on April 23, the Braves (2-12) won 7-6. The game came down to final inning, when the Eagles (5-9) tried to rally, but came up short despite scoring a run.
Both teams scored runs in the opening inning, and Hiwassee Dam took a 2-1 lead through three innings. The Eagles scored three in the top of the fifth, then the Braves scored four to tie the game.
Cherokee took the lead in the bottom of the sixth with two runs. Hiwassee Dam scored one run in the top of the seventh, but came up short and Cherokee closed out the game.
Hiwassee Dam had five hits; two from Clay Davis, and one each from Colton Berrong, Kyle Taylor and Braden Trow. Davis also had two home runs and four RBI.
Berrong had one RBI and a double, while Abel Penland’s speed was on display with three stolen bases. Isaiah Crisp, Davis and Kyle Taylor each had one stolen base.
On the mound, Kyle Taylor pitched 5.1 innings and gave up seven runs on five hits and two walks. He had seven strikeouts in his 99-pitch performance. Cole Elliot pitched 0.2 innings and didn’t give up any hits or runs and had one strikeout.
The tides turned in favor of the Eagles on Friday, when they defeated the Braves 8-4. The scoring got started for the Eagles in the bottom of the second and continued the next inning with three runs to take a 4-0 lead into the fourth.
Cherokee scored three runs in the top of the fourth to shrink the Eagles’ lead. They tied the game in the top of the fifth, but it didn’t last long. The Eagles sealed the deal with four runs in the bottom of the fifth, then closed out the game with a solid defensive performance.
Penland led the team, going 3-3 at the plate with one run scored, two RBI and a double. He also had two stolen bases. Berrong went 2-4 with two runs scored and a RBI. Dalton Kester, Dawson Headley and Trenten Beavers also had hits.
Crisp, Davis, Noah Shields and Carson Taylor scored runs. Davis had three stolen bases, Berrong had two and Shields, Headley and Carson Taylor had one.
On the mound, Davis pitched six innings, giving up four runs on three hits and three walks. To cap off his winning performance, he threw 14 strikeouts.
Headley closed the game by pitching the last inning. He only gave up one hit and struck out two batters.
The Eagles wrap up their regular season Thursday, when they host Swain County at 4:30 p.m.