MONTGOMERY – It was tough sledding for the Cullman Bearcats as they mustered just five hits in a 4-3 loss to Hillcrest Friday night at Paterson Field.
The Cats looked as if they were going to get off to a hot start as shortstop Kolby Robinson earned a lead-off walk to start the game, but he was quickly erased as Levi Thomas popped up a bunt attempt and Robinson could not get back to the bag in time. Owen Lovell came up with the bases empty and gave the ball a ride to centerfield, but with 380 feet to dead center, it turned into a routine fly ball.
Following a pair of back-to-back three up, three down innings, Robinson came to the plate for the second time and delivered a single for the first Cullman hit. Thomas looked to move him over with a bunt but again the attempt was popped up. Lovell would then ground into a 6-3 double play and the Cats would be turned away in the fourth.
Heads up base running helped Cullman score the game’s first run in the top of the fifth. Noah Fondren led off the inning with a hit shot to Casey Page at second, who booted the scorcher and allowed Fondren to reach. Jacob Heatherly would draw a walk to put two on with no outs. Carter Bowen then attempted to lay down a sacrifice bunt, but for the third time in the game, Cullman popped up a bunt. Bowen was out on the pop up and Heatherly was caught off of first. However, Fondren took advantage of the Hillcrest celebration and sped to third. Page tried to cut him down at third but instead committed his second error of the inning, throwing the ball into left field and allowing Fondren to race home to give Cullman a 1-0 lead heading to the bottom of the fifth.
Cullman would add another run in the top of the sixth. Robinson started the rally with a two-out single, the second of his three hits. Thomas would reach base safely for the first time with a base on balls and Lovell would pick up his only hit of the contest with a solid single through the hole at short. This would bring up the fifth inning hero Fondren and once again he would not disappoint. He would earn a bases-loaded walk that forced home Robinson and put Cullman on top 2-0 and just six outs away from a game one win.
Down to their final six outs, the Patriots got to work. Sage Smelley got thigs going with a one-out single. Cole Frederick joined him on base with a walk. Tyler Turner would lay down a text book sacrifice to move the runners to second and third and Blake Robbins took care of the rest by delivering a two-out, two-run single to tie the game at two heading to the top of the seventh.
The Bearcats answered right back with a two-out, pinch hit single off the bat of Ben Smith, but it was a short-lived lead as Hillcrest would plate two in the bottom of the seventh on a wild pitch and a bases-loaded walk off single that was delivered by Frederick.
Cullman looks to make a comeback Saturday afternoon at Riverwalk Stadium in game two of the best of three series. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m.
Cullman scattered five hits over seven innings, three of which belonged to Robinson. Lovell and Smith added the other two hits. Fondren and Smith had the two Cullman RBIs.
Heatherly gave up four hits and two runs over six innings while striking out four and walking just one.
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