The Shadow
COVINGTON, VA – On Tuesday evening, the Covington Cougars (2-7) comeback bid was cut short on the baseball diamond following an 8-6 home loss at Casey Field to the Eastern Montgomery Mustangs in Pioneer District action.
The Mustangs who led throughout the game survived a late scare in the sixth inning. After building a five-run lead after three and a half innings at 6-1, the Mustangs lead would dwindle down to just three runs after the Cougars scored a run in back-to-back innings in the fourth and fifth inning off of an RBI from Garrett Carper (0-for-1) on a sacrifice flyout and Hayden Rodgers (1-for-4) who scored on an error.
Just as the Cougars were gaining some momentum, the Mustangs with two outs in the sixth inning were able to sneak in two runs in result of a fielding error by the Cougars.
Now down by five runs once again, the Cougars with just a handful of outs remaining got a little help from their opponents’ defense as a fielding error put two runners on base. The lead would be cut down to four runs as Tanner Hoke (2-for-4) scored on a throwing error. With a pair of runners still on base, Rodgers would drive the teams fifth run on a fielder’s choice.
As the Cougars were once before, they were within three runs, but staring at two outs in the inning. With Landon Arritt (0-for-1) at the plate, Rocklynn Phillips (0-for-0) would score on the bats sixth pitch which brought the team within two runs. After an eight-pitch at bat, Arritt would walk which loaded the bases. In the game’s biggest at bat, Kobe Phoenix (S/2-for-5), who came in relief of Austin Tate (W/0-for-3), would strikeout out Luke Conner (0-for-4) on three pitches to end the Cougars rally. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Phoenix would strike out the side to end the game.
The Mustangs were led by Hunter Howard (3-for-4) who had a game-high three hits, along with two RBI’s. Camden Sutphin (0-for-3) also had two RBI’s. Meanwhile, Phoenix and Lucas Jones each had a pair of hits. Tate, who picked up the win, allowed six runs (three earned) on four hits in 5.1 innings, while also walking six, and struck out eight. Phoenix, who relieved Tate, picked up the save as he struck out four in 1.2 scoreless innings of relief work.
Hoke led the Cougars with a two-hit performance, while Rodgers, and Ethan Martin (1-for-2) each had hits as well. Carper, Martin, and Rodgers, each had RBI’s. Cook (L/0-for-1) suffered the loss after giving up six runs (one earned) on five hits in four innings, while walking four, and struck out six. Arritt also pitched for the Cougars in relief of Cook and gave up two unearned runs over three innings.
The Cougars will look to get back in the win column on Thursday when the team hosts Narrows at Casey Field at 5:00 p.m.
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
EMHS 2 0 2 2 0 2 0 8 8 3
CHS 1 0 0 1 1 3 0 6 4 6
Mustangs Box Score
Player AB R H RBI BB SO
C. Jones, 3B 3 1 0 0 2 0
Phoenix, 1B/P 5 2 2 0 0 0
Tate, P/1B 3 0 0 0 2 1
Howard, RF 4 2 3 2 0 0
Sutphin, SS 3 1 0 2 1 2
W. Jones, DH 3 1 0 0 0 2
Atkinson, C 3 0 1 1 1 1
L. Jones, LF 4 0 2 1 0 1
Shepherd, 2B 4 0 0 0 0 2
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TEAM 32 8 8 6 6 9
PITCHING
Player IP H R ER BB SO
Tate (W) 5.1 4 6 3 6 8
Phoenix (S) 1.2 0 0 0 1 4
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TEAM 7 4 6 3 7 12
Cougars Box Score
Player AB R H RBI BB SO
Rodgers, 2B/CF 4 1 1 1 0 0
Arritt, CF/P 1 1 0 0 3 1
Conner, C 4 0 0 0 0 2
Martin, 3B 2 0 1 1 0 0
Davis, 3B 1 0 0 0 0 1
N. Phillips, DH 3 0 0 0 0 2
Cook, P, 2B 1 0 0 0 0 1
Hoke, LF 4 2 2 0 0 2
Crowder, 1B 1 0 0 0 0 1
Dressler, 1B 1 0 0 0 1 1
Carper. SS 1 1 0 1 1 0
Williams, RF 1 0 0 0 1 1
R. Phillips, RF 0 1 0 0 1 0
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TEAM 24 6 4 3 7 12
PITCHING
Players IP H R ER BB SO
Cook (L) 4 5 6 1 4 6
Arritt 3 3 2 0 2 3
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TEAM 7 8 8 1 6 9
