CULLMAN, Ala. – After defeating Muscle Shoals on the road earlier this week, the Bearcats returned home to Bill Shelton Field Thursday night to finish the area series with the Trojans and Cullman clinched its 22nd consecutive playoff appearance with a 4-1 win in game one. Riley Jackson earned the win on the mound, allowing just four hits in five scoreless innings and striking out four batters.
Jackson led off the bottom of the first with a double into left field and after Paxton Ponder was hit by a pitch, Cooper Loftin drew a walk to load the bases. Zane Watwood was hit by a pitch in the next at bat and Jackson came home to score and give Cullman a 1-0 lead going into the second inning. Muscle Shoals answered with an RBI single in the top of the third to tie the game at 1 but a sacrifice fly off the bat of Jackson allowed Easton Peed to score in the top of the third and put the Bearcats back in front 2-1.
Cullman added to its lead in the third when Watwood drove an RBI single up the middle to plate Garrett Hall and make it a 3-1 game. An RBI single from Cole Floyd brought Cody Jones home to score in the fourth, stretching the Bearcat lead to 4-1 going into the fifth inning. Jackson cruised the rest of the way on the mound, including a three-pitch sixth inning, to secure a 4-1 win for the ‘Cats and another postseason berth.
At the plate, Watwood (one hit) led the way with a pair of RBIs and Jackson (one hit) and Floyd (one hit) each drove in a run as well.
The Bearcats will be back home Saturday to host a double header against Helena and Briarwood Christian before turning their attention to an area series with Hartselle next week.
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