Bell City, the defending class one state champs and ranked number one all season as well, opened the game with back to back doubles against Oran starter Preston Hahn. Then with one out, an infield error allowed the second run to score from second base. Just like that, the Eagles were down 2-0.
But, the top two in the Oran line up would also score to tie the game. Drew Reischman hit double to the gap in right center. Cole Priggel walked on four straight pitches. Hahn advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Both runners then scored on Blake Overfield's infield single and error that allowed Overfield to advance to third. He was stranded there after a bang-bang play at first on Layne Johnson's ground ball. The call did not go the Eagle's way.
The score remained 2-2 until the fourth even though both teams had opportunities to score.
In the top of the second, the Cubs lead off man was hit by a pitch, he moved to second base on a ground out. One out later a walk had runners on at first and second, but Hahn induced a pop up to Priggel at second to end the inning.
In the third, Bell City opened the inning with an infield single. The Cubs put the hit and run on and the batter hit a line drive toward first. Austin Eftink made a leaping catch and stepped on the base for a double play.
In the Cub fourth, a runner was stranded at third after a one out double moved over on a ground out.
The Eagles also had chances.
In the second, Drew Mitchem was hit by pitch with one out. He moved over on Eftink's sac bunt, but was caught stealing trying to advance on a wild pitch..
In the third, Reischman singled, but was caught stealing. Then, Oran picked up two two-out walks, but stranded both.
The drought would end in the fourth.
Johnson laid down a perfect bunt single. Tanner McVay hit a sharp ground ball to third, but when they tried to start a double play the second baseman muffed the throw and everybody was safe. Mitchem got a sacrifice bunt down to advance the runners. Then with two outs and a one strike count, Reischman picked up his third hit of the day, by far the biggest, a three run homer to give the birds a 5-2 lead.
Bell City would once again get back to back doubles from the top of the line up to start the fifth to put runners on second and third. Reischman would relieve Hahn on the mound. The Eagles caught a break after a wild pitch, the runner at third was out at the plate after Clay Sauceda made a nice underhand toss to Reischman, who was covering home. The other runner did move up to third. After a walk, a fielder's choice allowed a run to score.
It was 5-3.
Reischman set the Cubs down in order in the sixth, the only frame they did not have a base runner.
It looked like the seventh would be a repeat of the sixth, but, after two were down, a sharply hit ball into the gap in left-center was fielded by Johnson, who made several nice running catches on the day, and kept what appeared to be a double to only a single. The next batter reached on an error. When the next batter walked to load the bases and put the go ahead run on base, Eagle head coach Joe Bickings brought Johnson to the mound. Johnson got a swinging strike on a 2-2 count to end the game.
Hahn picked up the win to improve to 5-2. He went 4 1/3 innings allowing 3 runs, only 2 earned, on 6 hits, 1 walk and 4 strike outs. Layne "Lights-out" Johnson, picked up his fourth save, his third in as many games, going the final 1/3. Rieschman pitched 2 and 1/3 giving up 1 hit, 2 walks and striking out 3.
Reischman was the hero at the plate, going 3-3 with 3 RBI with a double and a homer.
The Eagles improved to 11-8.
They will travel to Poplar Bluff to take on the Mules junior varsity team on Wednesday at 4:30.
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