CULLMAN, Ala. – After taking game one at Jasper Tuesday night, the Cullman Bearcats were back home Thursday night to continue their area series with the Vikings. The ‘Cats dominated the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader 16-3 to claim the series win and secure a spot in the state playoffs.
Bennett Johnson’s second solo home run in as many games gave the Bearcats a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Cullman added to its lead in the second. Cale Graves drove another solo shot over the fence in left center field to make it a 2-0 game. Cooper Loftin singled up the middle and Case Edwards was hit by a pitch to keep the inning going. A few pitches later, Brooks Heatherly lined an RBI single to right field to plate Loftin and extend the lead to 3-0. Cullman tacked on another run when Colter Bowen ripped an RBI single to right field and Carson Stancil drew a walk with bases loaded later in the inning to give the ‘Cats a 5-0 lead going into the third.
After a pair of scoreless innings, Jasper strung together three hits and took advantage of a balk and a passed ball to cut the lead to 5-3 in the top of the fifth.
Cullman responded in the bottom half of the inning. Stancil singled to left field and Tyler Brock was hit by a pitch to give the ‘Cats a pair of runners and Graves lined a 2-run single to left field to make it a 7-3 game. With the bases loaded later in the inning, Heatherly drew a walk to bring in another run and stretch the lead to 8-3. Loftin scored on a passed ball to make it 9-3 and Johnson was hit by a pitch to force another run across the plate and give Cullman a 10-3 lead. Brock Drew another walk and Knox Mauldin was hit by a pitch to plate two more runs and make it a 12-3 game going into the sixth.
Loftin led off the bottom of the sixth with a single, Mack David Robertson was hit by a pitch and Heatherly drew a walk to load the bases for Bowen. A few pitches later, Bowen sent a walk-off grand slam over the wall in left center to cap a 16-3 win for the Bearcats and secure a postseason berth.
Fysher Dahlke tossed all six innings to earn the win, allowing two earned runs on six hits and striking out 10. Bowen (two hits) racked up five RBIs in the win.
Graves (two hits) added three RBIs and Heatherly (two hits) and Johnson (one hit) each posted a pair of RBIs. Loftin finished the game with three hits.
Cullman 7 – Jasper 2 (Game Two)
After a scoreless first inning, Jasper scored on a sacrifice bunt to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the second. The Vikings tacked on another run in the top of the third to make it a 2-0 game, but Cullman was able to pull ahead in the bottom half of the inning.
Brooks Heatherly was hit by a pitch and Colter Bowen singled on a bunt down the third base line to put runners on the corners. Heatherly scored on a sacrifice fly from Bennett Johnson a few pitches later to trim the lead to 2-1 and Carson Stancil lined a double into center field to plate Bowen and tie things up at 2. Cale Graves kept the momentum going with an RBI double to right field, putting the Bearcats in front 3-2 and he came around to score on a passed ball later in the inning to make it 4-2 going into the fourth.
Case Edwards led off the bottom of the fourth with a double and Cross Bowen entered the game to run for him. After stealing third, Bowen scored on an error to stretch the lead to 5-2 headed into the fifth. A 2-run double off the bat of Stancil made it a 7-2 game in the bottom of the sixth. The ‘Cats collected the final three outs they needed in the top of the seventh to wrap up a 7-2 win and sweep the Vikings.
Stancil (two hits) recorded three RBIs in the win and Johnson (one hit) and Graves (one hit) each added an RBI as well.
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