The Bainbridge High School varsity baseball team fell to the Liberty County, Fla., Bulldogs in Bristol, Fla., on Tuesday.

The Bearcats were edged 6-5 in 13 innings, when Liberty’s Hunter Jacobs singled to bring home Noah Davis.

Ben Day had three hits for the Bearcats — all singles. His two-out single in the seventh inning scored Michael Faircloth and Blake Voyles.

Faircloth scored two runs and had one stolen base.

The Bearcats were scheduled to host a double-header against Hardaway at Bearcat Field on Friday evening.

“It would be nice if we could sweep the double-header after Hardaway beat us 6-0 in Columbus earlier this season,” Bainbridge head coach Brian McCorkle said Thursday. “This will be a good chance to pick up two big region wins.”

McCorkle said it has been good for his players to rest up some after playing 23 innings over their last two games.

Liberty County starting pitcher Hayden Swier pitched nine innings, while Monroe Hinson and Dustin Watson pitched two innings apiece. The trio struck out 14, walked eight and gave up 11 hits.

Liberty County’s offense was sparked by Jacobs and Swier, who combined for five hits and three RBIs.

Bearcats beat Cairo in 10 innings

On Saturday, March 16, a 10th-inning, walk-off single by Cole Granato helped the Bearcats defeat Cairo High School 2-1 at Bearcat Field.

Granato was the hot hitter for the Bearcats, with two hits in four at-bats and one RBI. His other single came in the eighth inning.

But the big hit came in the bottom of the 10th, with the bases loaded, when Granato’s single drove in Michael Faircloth from third base. Faircloth, Tate Lambert and Blake Voyles had all been walked.

Cairo’s lone run of the ballgame came in the third inning, on a sacrifice fly by Alex Baxter.
The Bearcats tied the game in the fourth, when Ben Day’s RBI single drove in Voyles.

Rion Murrah got the win in relief, pitching 4 2/3 innings and allowing no runs.

Cairo’s starting pitcher, Alex Flowers, pitched nine innings, giving up six hits and recording 13 strikeouts. Bailey Lewis replaced Flowers in the 10th and gave up the winning run.
Lewis and Cage Cox each had two hits for the Syrupmakers.

Bearcat statistics (as of Thursday afternoon)

Team record: 5-5

Leading hitters: Tate Lambert, .378; Blake Voyles, .370

Leading Pitcher: Rion Murrah, 2-1, one save and a 1.07 ERA

Team ERA: 1.95