Wildcats run-rule eagles, 14-4

The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity baseball team went on the road last Saturday and run- ruled the Roosevelt Eagles, 14-2.

Major McNeese led things off with a triple to left-center field to get things started for Littlefield and Ian Mendez drove him in with a single to shallow left field, as Sam Hill came on as the courtesy runner for the catcher with the score, 1-0. Hill stole second on a pitch, before Isaiah Rodriguez drew a walk, putting two runners on for the Wildcats.

The runners took second and third on a past ball, before Brenden Bowman ripped a two-RBI single to right-center field to extend the lead to, 3-0. Ja’Den Williams came on as the courtesy runner for the pitcher. Chip Green followed it up with an RBI double to left-center field to push the lead to, 4-0, before Elijah Salazar struck out swinging for out number one.

Green took third on a bad pickoff to second base by Logan Bartlett, before Markus Rosales drew a walk to put runners on the corners. Rosales stole second on a pitch and Green scored on a bad throw to the plate by Nate Casarez, as Rosales took third on the error, extending their lead to, 5-0. Javen Jimenez hit an RBI-single to second base, on an error by Matthieu Rocha making the score, 6-0.

Adam MacDonald popped up to Rocha at second base for out number two, but Jimenez stole second on a pitch, before McNeese knocked an RBI-single through the right side to push their lead to, 7-0. Mendez grounded out to Casarez at shortstop to retire the side.

Bowman gave up back-to-back walks to begin the bottom half of the inning, but JP Naranjo hit into a fielder’s choice to Rodriguez at shortstop, who got the force at second base for out number one. Bowman got Casarez to strike out swinging for out number two and got Brit Weller to strike out looking to end the inning.

Rodriguez struck out swinging for out number one in the top of the second inning, but Bowman had a pop up fall in shallow right field on the first-base line, bringing Williams on as the courtesy runner. Green drew a walk and the runners advanced on a past ball, before Salazar singled to shallow right-center field to drive in a run, making the score, 8-0.

Rosales was hit by a pitch to load the bases, as Rocha relieved Bartlett on the mound for the Eagles. Jimenez was hit by a pitch to drive in a run, making the score, 9-0, but MacDonald struck out looking for out number two and McNeese hit into a fielder’s choice to Bartlett at second base to retire the side.

The Eagles walked in a run in the bottom of the second inning to trim the lead to, 9-1, but the Wildcats went back to work in the top of the third.

Mendez singled off of the glove of Angel Olivares at third base, bringing Hill on as the courtesy runner for the catcher. He took second on a pitch, before Rodriguez was thrown out at first on a dropped third strike, moving Hill over to third with one out. Bowman struck out swinging for out number two, but Green singled on an infield hit to Olivares at third, allowing Hill to score on the throw to first, making the score, 10-1.

Salazar, though, would flew out to Aiden Russell in left field to retire the side.

TheEagles scratched another run across in the top of the third inning, and in the top of the fourth, Rosales drew a lead-off walk to get Littlefield going. He took second on a wild pitch, before Jimenez doubled of of the top of the left field fence to make the score, 11-2.

MacDonald popped up to Casarez behind third base for out number one, but Jimenez took third on a pitch, before Hill singled on an error by Olivares at third base. Jimenz got into a rundown between third and home, before scoring on a bobbled throw by the Eagles to make the score, 12-2. Mendez promptly cleared the bases with a two-run homerun to left field to make the score, 14-2, before Rodriguez flew out to Cooper Bland in right center field and Bowman struck out swinging to retire the side.

Green relieved Bowman on the mound to begin the fourth inning, as the Wildcats shut down the Eagles over the final two innings to close out the game.

Bowman pitched three innings for the Wildcats giving up two runs and five walks, while earning four strike outs. Green closed out the final two innings, earning three punch outs, while giving up just two walks.