CULLMAN, Ala. – The Bearcats were back home at Bill Shelton Field Tuesday night to host a matchup with Vestavia Hills but unfortunately for the home crowd, Cullman couldn’t get its bats going consistently and the Rebels were able to leave with a 6-3 win, handing the ‘Cats their first loss of the season.
Vestavia Hills led off the top of the first with a solo homerun to take a 1-0 lead right out of the gate. Tucker Cagle worked around two walks in the top of the second to strand a pair of Rebels but in the third, an RBI single plated another run and made it a 2-0 game.
The Bearcats got on the board in the bottom half of the third. Paxton Ponder drew a two-out walk and Riley Jackson reached first base on an error to put runners at the corners with Easton Peed coming to the plate. Peed took advantage of the situation and punched a 2-run single into center field to tie the game at 2 going into the fourth.
However, the Rebels responded in their half of the fourth, pulling ahead 5-2 thanks to a single, an error and a sacrifice fly. The ‘Cats went down in order on just six pitches in the bottom of the fourth and Vestavia Hills scored on a passed ball in the top of the fifth to tack on another run and make it a 6-2 game.
After a scoreless sixth inning, Patton Elkins took the mound for Cullman in the top of the seventh and retired all three batters he faced to hold the lead to 6-2 going into the bottom of the seventh. Elijah Hayes and Garrett Hall singled to give the Bearcats a pair of runners and Cole Floyd ripped an RBI single up the middle to cut the lead to 6-3. Unfortunately, the ‘Cats weren’t able to chip away any more of the lead than that and the Rebels held on to win it 6-3.
Peed posted a pair of RBIs and a hit for Cullman in the loss. Floyd added two hits and an RBI and Hayes and Hall each finished with a hit as well.
The Bearcats will now shift their focus to this year’s Perfect Game High School Showdown in Hoover starting Thursday.
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