RICHMOND, Ind. – A slow start hurt the Hagerstown baseball team on Tuesday as the Tigers fell 5-1 to Richmond in their season opener on John Cate Field at McBride Stadium.
“A lot of teams would like to look at that like a moral victory,” Hagerstown Head Coach Brad Catey said. “I think our goals are bigger than that. We’re better than that. Richmond is a pretty good team, but I think we are good too.”
Richmond scored twice in the first inning against the Class 2A No. 6 Tigers before the Red Devils added their final three runs in the second frame.
“Drew (Pyle) had a little bit of control problems early, but he had some really good pitches too,” Catey said of his starting hurler. “Then (Brett) Burns comes in, does a great job of bailing us out. Trey (Kelley) came in when Burns got to his limit and threw great
Burns entered the contest with one out in the second and got a strikeout, which was followed by Hagerstown catcher Cam Purtha picking off a Richmond runner at first on the play to end the inning with a double play.
Kelley tossed the final two frames holding Richmond scoreless as he fanned three batters.
A critical moment for Catey occurred in the top of the fifth when the Tigers left the bases loaded.
“Just some little things,” Catey said. “We have runners on second and third and we get two strikeouts from the top of our lineup. You can’t have that. You’ve got to put those balls in play. It’s something we can work on.”
Cody Wilson singled to start the inning. Cam Purtha walked to set up a sacrifice bunt situation for Brandon Purtha. Purtha’s bunt was mishandled and it led to Hagerstown’s run, which set up the Tigers with runners on second and third with no outs.
Hagerstown had another opportunity in the sixth, but the Tigers stranded a pair of runners as the threat was halted.
Wilson led the Tigers with two hits, while Burns, Owen Golliher and Mason Hick each had one hit.
The Tigers (0-1) entertain Eastern Hancock on Monday in their home opener.
Line Score
Hagerstown 000 010 0 – 1
Richmond 230 000 x – 5
WP – Jake Robertson (1-0). LP – Drew Pyle (0-1). HR – Richmond: Jordan Christian.