The Bainbridge High School varsity baseball team shut out the Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets, 12-0, in both games of a doubleheader in Thomasville, Ga., on Friday night.

The Bearcats’ torrid offense was accompanied by a pair of excellent pitching performances.

Rion Murrah struck out 13 Yellow Jackets en route to a complete game shutout in Game 1, while Tate Lambert threw his second no-hitter of the season in Game 2.

Game 1: Bainbridge 12, Thomas County Central 0

Game 1 started off tamely enough, with the Bearcats putting a run on the board in the top of the first and third innings. Then they broke the game open in the fourth with four runs, followed by two in the fifth and four more in the seventh. In all, the Bearcats had 18 hits.

Offensive leaders included Ben Day, who had four RBIs on three hits and Jackson Jones, who also had two doubles and asingle. Murrah and Blake Voyles both had two RBIs apiece in Game 1, while Jordan Davis had one RBI.

Murrah threw 100 pitches to win Game 1; 66 of them were strikes.

Game 2: Bainbridge 12, Thomas County Central 0

Game 2 lasted only five innings, as the “mercy rule” came into effect.

Three Bearcats came around to score in Bainbridge’s second inning, followed by two more runs in the third and a whopping seven runs in the fifth.

Impressively, 45 of the total 71 pitches Lambert threw were called strikes. He had three strikeouts, and allowed just two baserunners — on a hit batter and a walk.

Offensive leaders in Game 2 were Jackson Jones, who had three RBIs on two hits. Lambert helped his own cause, knocking in two runs on three hits, while Ben Day and Matt Burke also had two RBIs.
Shawon Gardner had an RBI. Grant McDonald also had two hits in the game.

The two pitchers that Central used had accuracy problems, giving up seven walks. Jake Goodson was walked three times, while Blake Voyles and Jordan Davis each were walked twice.

Burke and Gardner both reached base once each on Yellow Jacket errors.

With the wins, the Bearcats’ overall season record improves to 9-11. The Bearcats are tied for fourth place in Region 1-AAAA with Lee County.

Scheduled next for the Bearcats was a home game against non-region opponent Liberty County, Fla., at the BHS Diamonds on Tuesday, April 16, at 6 p.m.

On Friday, the Bearcats will host a doubleheader against region opponent Northside-Columbus, with Game 1 starting at 5 p.m.