Leaving runners in scoring position several times, the Rockbridge County High School baseball team suffered a 4-1 home loss to Fort Defiance on Thursday evening in Lexington.
With the win, the Indians (8-7) swept the regular-series with the Wildcats (4-9). When the teams met on April 10 at Fort, the Indians won 7-1.
In the rematch, Fort led off with a double on a fly ball to center field and then scored on an RC error. The Indians extended their lead to 2-0 when Noah Dulaney singled on a fly ball to right field to drive in Isaac Marshall.
The Wildcats answered back in the bottom of the first. After Austyn Gannutz singled on a line drive to left field and Clay Irvine doubled on a line drive to the same spot, Drew Potter grounded out but brought home JP Welsh III, a courtesy runner for Gannutz, to cut Fort’s lead to 2-1.
In the top of the second, after drawing two walks, the Indians scored again when Marshall doubled on a fly ball to right field to drive in Hanger and Garrett Simmons, stretching Fort’s lead to 4-1.
The Wildcats had Austin Moyers on third base with one out in the bottom of the second, but the Indians ended the inning by catching two fly balls for outs. Rocky Perlozzo got to third base with two outs in the bottom of the fourth, but Fort again caught a fly ball, and neither team scored again for the rest of the game.
RC recorded six hits, while Fort had five. Recording one hit each for the Wildlcats were Gannutz, Irvine, Moyers, Perlozzo, Trevor Hoke and Bradi Ziegler.
Hanger led the Indians with two hits, while three Fort players each had one hit.
On the mound, Noah Dulaney pitched the first five innings for Fort, striking out six while allowing five hits, two walks and one earned run. Wilson Cash threw for the final two innings, striking out one while surrendering one hit, one walk and no runs.
For RC, Eli Watkins pitched the first four innings, striking out four while allowing four hits, three walks and four runs, two of them earned. In the final three innings, Irvine struck out four while surrendering one hit, no walks and no runs.
RC and Fort each committed one error.
The Wildcats are scheduled to return to Valley District action at Harrisonburg on Friday at 6 p.m.
For the full story on this week’s action, with photos from RC’s 8-3 home loss to district rival East Rockingham on Tuesday, please see our May 14 newspaper.
