BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Union County High School’s baseball team was held to two hits in a 5-1 loss to visiting University Christian on March 7.
The Tigers (7-3) had the chance to score in the first inning. Leadoff batter Jeffrey Brugh was hit by a pitch, but was later thrown out attempting to steal second. Still, Union had two on with two outs after Jake Walker walked and Erick Lasseter singled. A ground out, though, ended the inning.
Trailing 1-0, the Tigers put two on with no out in the fourth. Walker reached on a dropped third strike, while Lasseter walked. The runners advanced on Ayden Androlevich’s sacrifice bunt, but were left stranded when University pitcher Elias Murdock struck out two straight.
Starting pitcher Lasseter gave up four hits through the first four innings and got the first two batters of the fifth to fly out and ground out. University, though, got back-to-back singles from Caden Worbington and Brennen Crouch before Bryson Harnage drove a 1-0 pitch over the fence in left, putting the Fightin’ Christians up 4-0.
It was 5-0 before Union scored its lone run. Lasseter walked with one out in the sixth, followed by Androlevich hitting a single. After the second out, Devin Diggs was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Lasseter scored on a wild pitch before a fly out ended the inning.
Relief pitcher Foster Smith threw the final two innings for Union, giving up one unearned run and two hits, while striking out four.
Union entered the game off a 7-5 loss at Oakleaf on March 4.
Oakleaf scored four of the game’s first five runs. A two-run fifth in which the Knights took advantage of three consecutive singles proved to be the difference.
The Tigers pulled to within 6-5 with a two-run sixth. Carter Whitehead singled and scored on a wild pitch, while Brugh hit an RBI single.
Lasseter and Walker went 2 for 2 and 2 for 4, respectively, with each hitting a double. Lasseter had two RBI, while Brugh and Whitehead each finished with one.
Union travels to Ocala to play Forest on Monday, March 10, at 7 p.m. and will travel to play Lafayette on Thursday, March 13, at 7 p.m. The Tigers host Baldwin on Friday, March 14, at 7 p.m. and then host Dunnellon on Tuesday, March 28, at 7 p.m.
