KIMBERLY, Ala. – The Bearcats hit the road Thursday night to face Mortimer Jordan in the opening round of the 6A State Playoffs and split the first two matchups with the Blue Devils, forcing a rubber match on Friday. Cullman dropped a tight game one 3-2 but bounced back to take game two 7-0 and will return to Mortimer Jordan for game three Friday at 3 p.m.
Mortimer Jordan 3 – Cullman 2 (Game One)
The Blue Devils took an early, 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first with a 2-run single into left field but Garrett Hall scored on a fielder’s choice in the top of the second to get one of the runs back and cut the lead to 2-1. Offense was tough for both teams to find the rest of the way, but after three scoreless innings, the ‘Cats tied things up in the top of the sixth. Riley Jackson punched a 2-out single up the middle and a few pitches later, Elijah Hayes lifted a double into left field to bring Jackson all the way around and tie the game at 2.
Mortimer Jordan responded in the bottom half of the sixth, taking a 3-2 lead on an RBI single. Back to back singles by Easton Peed and Cody Jones gave the Bearcats a pair of runners with two outs in the top of the seventh but a strikeout ended Cullman’s chances of tying the game and secured a 3-2 win in game one for the Blue Devils.
Cooper Loftin went 5.1 innings on the mound, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits and striking out four batters. At the plate, Jackson led the way with a pair of hits and Hayes finished with a hit and an RBI. Peed and Jones each added hits in the loss and Hunter Howell posted an RBI as well.
Cullman 7 – Mortimer Jordan 0 (Game Two)
After a scoreless first inning, the Bearcats jumped ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the second when Cody Jones laid down a sacrifice bunt and brought Zane Watwood home to score. Cullman stretched its lead to 3-0 in the third with a pair of RBI singles from Elijah Hayes and Tucker Cagle and Riley Jackson led off the bottom of the fifth with a solo homerun to make it a 4-0 game.
The ‘Cats continued adding to their lead in the fifth after three straight singles by Hayes, Cagle and Watwood loaded the bases and Hunter Howell drove in a pair of runs with a double to right field to make it 6-0 going into the sixth.
Cagle worked his way around a pair of walks in the top of the sixth to keep the Blue Devils off the board and Cole Floyd scored from third in the bottom half of the inning to put Cullman on top 7-0. The ‘Cats collected the final three outs in the top of the seventh to wrap up a 7-0 win in game two.
Cagle went the distance on the mound for the Bearcats, earning the win after tossing six shutout innings, allowing six hits and striking out two.
Hayes led the way for the Bearcats with three hits at the plate and Howell (one hit) finished with a pair of RBIs. Jackson (one RBI) and Cagle (one RBI) each added a pair of hits in the win and Jones posted an RBI as well.
Cullman will return to Mortimer Jordan for game three Friday at 3 p.m.
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