BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Erick Lasseter hit a walkoff single in the bottom of the seventh as the Union County High School baseball team defeated visiting University Christian 9-8 on April 20.
The Tigers (15-6) fell behind 6-0, but cut University’s lead in half in the third, thanks to Tucker Hardee. Jeff Cook hit a single to lead that inning off, followed by Jeremy Miller drawing a walk. Hardee, with one out, drove the first pitch he saw over the fence in right field for a three-run homer.
A four-run fourth inning put Union ahead 7-6. The Tigers loaded the bases when Devin Diggs walked, Lasseter was hit by a pitch and Preston Bonsall singled. Cook, who went 2 for 2, drove in a run with a single, followed by Lasseter scoring on a passed ball. Miller hit a sacrifice fly to drive in the inning’s third run before Hardee hit a run-scoring single with two outs.
University drew three straight walks with one out in the top of the sixth. A runner scored on a wild pitch, while another scored on a sacrifice fly, putting the Christians up 8-7.
Hardee, who went 3 for 4 with four RBI, led off the bottom of the seventh with a single. Tre’Von Lee also singled before Blake Agner, who bunted, reached on an error, which allowed Hardee to score and tie it up at 8-8. Diggs was intentionally walked before Lasseter drove a 2-2 pitch into right field to score the winning run.
Lasseter, who pitched the final inning, earned the win, giving up no runs, one hit and no walks.
The Tigers, who are the top-ranked team in the Florida High School Athletic Association’s Class 1A power poll, entered the game off a 10-2 loss to Columbia in Lake City on April 19.
Columbia, the third-ranked team in the FHSAA’s Class 5A power poll, scored the game’s first five runs, scored three runs each in the first two innings. Union got on the board in the top of the fourth. Bonsall singled, while Lee drew a walk. Agner was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. After a pop-up to first, Diggs hit a sacrifice fly to score Bonsall.
The host team scored three runs on two errors in the bottom of the fourth, which featured a total of four runs as Columbia went up 10-1.
Ayden Elixson scored the Tigers’ second run, reaching on a double in the seventh and scoring on a passed ball.
Hardee was the only Union batter with multiple hits, going 2 for 3.
Union travels to play Baker County on Tuesday, April 25, at 6:30 p.m. and will conclude the regular season with a home game against Trinity Catholic on Thursday, April 27, at 6 p.m.
