Bill Lusk | WVOW Sports
MAN Belfry (KY) scored five runs in the second inning to hand Class A No. 4 Man its first loss of the season defeating the Hillbillies 7-4 Monday evening at William Tootie Carter Field.
The Hillbillies trailed 7-1 after four innings and was able to close the deficit to three runs, 7-4, after scoring a run in the fifth and two in the sixth.
Man had the tying run at the plate in the seventh inning, but Bo Thompson’s sinking flyball was caught on the run by Belfry left fielder Jonathan Banks to preserve the Pirate victory.
Michael Hagy drove in two runs, Jonah Adkins had two doubles and scored twice while Isaiah Stanley had one hit and one RBI and Jake Varney drove in a run for Belfry, who improved to 3-3 on the season.
The Pirates took advantage of two Man errors in the second inning to plate five runs – four unearned – on just one hit.
Man had taken a 1-0 lead on Kaden Dickerson’s RBI fielders choice in the first inning.
The Pirates tied it at 1 on Hagy’s RBI groundout and took the lead when Steven Banks reached safely on an error allowing Adkins to score.
Jake Varney drew a bases loaded walk allowing Chase Varney to score making it 3-1 and Jonathan Banks and Steven Banks scored on a throwing error giving Belfry a 5-1 lead.
The four-run lead would be plenty for Chase Varney, who picked up his second win of the season, pitching five innings with four hits, two earned runs, two walks and five strikeouts.
Hagy’s second RBI groundout in the fifth gave Belfry a 6-1 lead and Stanley’s run scoring single put the Pirates ahead 7-1 heading to the bottom of the fifth.
Man got a sacrifice fly off the bat of Jace Adkins to cut the deficit to 7-2 after five innings.
The Hillbillies plated a pair of runs in the sixth inning. Brayden Compton started the scoring with an RBI single to make it 7-3 and John McCoy’s sacrifice bunt trimmed the deficit to 7-4.
Noah Brown pitched the final two innings allowing two runs on four hits with one strikeout for Belfry.
Braxton Messer gave up five runs – one earned run – on one hit in three innings. Messer walked four batters, hit two additional batters, and suffered his first loss of the season for Man.
Compton pitched four innings of relief allowing two runs on five hits.
Messer had three hits and Hunter Gibson added two hits to lead Man at the plate Monday evening. Compton had one hit and one RBI, Cam Gerace and Thompson each had a single and Adkins and Dickerson each drove in a run for the Hillbillies.
Man (5-1) hosts Sherman at 6 p.m. Tuesday evening at William Tootie Carter Field and will host Class AA No. 1 Logan Thursday evening at 7 p.m.