Team effort lifts Wildcat baseball past Spring Hill

It may have just been one game in early April, but Tuesday’s victory over Spring Hill is something many Louisburg players know doesn’t happen often.

The Wildcats have been on the losing end of a lot of matchups against the Broncos, but Louisburg used a big inning to come out on top and get a revenge win in the process.

Louisburg scored five runs in the fourth inning and held on for a 5-4 victory over Spring Hill at Lewis-Young Park. It was a bounce back win for the Wildcats after losing 9-0 to the Broncos earlier this season.

“Spring Hill is a really good team,” Louisburg coach Kade Larson said. “Any time we can find a way to beat them is great. It was a big team win that everyone contributed to.”

It started at the plate for the Wildcats. Spring Hill took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning, only to see the Wildcats respond in a big way.

The Wildcats (5-1) had three straight singles from Jackson Howard, Jack Anderson and Nathaniel Lamm to load the bases. Meade Rutherford brought Howard home to tie the game on a fielder’s choice.

Sophomore Bristol Barbour came through with another single to score Lamm and give Louisburg the lead. Brody McGreer then reached on an error to load the bases again.

Declan Battle drew a walk that scored Rutherford and Barbour came across home plate on a wild pitch. Howard, who started it all, grounded into a fielder’s choice that scored McGreer.

“Offensively we had great at bats all night,” Larson said. “In that fourth inning, we gave up a run in the top half and immediately answered in the bottom. The guys had great approaches at the plate and found a way to get the job done.”

That would be all the runs the Wildcats would need as it got a strong pitching performance from Alex Saad. The Louisburg junior went six innings and gave up just two earned runs and struck out five.

Louisburg had to go to the pen in the seventh inning and the Broncos were able to mount a comeback with three runs. The bases were loaded with two outs in a one run game when junior Jayce Toms entered the contest.

In a pressure packed situation, Toms got a strikeout and helped give the Wildcats their third straight victory.

“Alex pitched really well,” Larson said. “He threw a ton of strikes and competed his butt off all night. Jayce came in and closed the door. He is great under pressure and proved it again to get that last out for us.”

Lamm had a big night for the Wildcat offense with three hits, while Anderson was 2-for-3 with a triple.

Louisburg is back in action today as the Wildcats host Wellsville for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m. at Lewis-Young Park.

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