The Bowling Green baseball team had trouble getting the ball out of the infield Thursday, so the Purples adjusted.

Bowling Green (5-0, 2-0 District 14) scored each of its runs in the bottom of the sixth, shutting out Greenwood 4-0 at BGHS.

The Purples had one hit in the first five innings, but they strung together five straight hits in the sixth, including three infield singles.

“That’s a classic case of two really good pitchers doing a great job early in the game, and runs were really hard to come by,” BG coach Dan Mosier said. “We scratched and scratched and came through in the right situation.”

The breakthrough hit came from senior Houston Natcher, who hit a two-run single to score senior Scooter Hollis and junior Chris McDaniel and give BG a 2-0 lead.

“We fought through it and came back with a couple of hits,” Natcher said. “We got started late, but we worked it out from there. The bats make a difference. It’s got to be a little bit more small ball.

“Once you get runners on, from there, you can kind of get momentum going.”

Greenwood (3-4, 0-2) had its opportunities, but left nine runners on base.

The Gators had the bases loaded in the top of the third inning, but BG senior pitcher Derrick Brock struck out Greenwood senior Travis Casebeer to end the threat.

“When they give us gifts like that, we’ve got to capitalize,” Greenwood coach Jason Jaggers said. “We definitely didn’t capitalize tonight. Our guys played hard and the effort’s there, but we think we’re getting a little too tense. We’re trying to do too much with guys in scoring position instead of staying relaxed.”

Brock pitched the full seven innings for the Purples, allowing four hits and two walks with three strikeouts.

“I’m glad I’ve got my team behind me,” Brock said. “I wouldn’t trade them for anybody. They made some big plays after some errors. They kept working and did what they needed to do.”

Bowling Green started the bottom of the sixth with three straight singles by sophomore Seaton Sheldon, Hollis and senior Sam Wilson.

Natcher followed with his game-winning hit down the left-field line, and Brock added a bunt single to load the bags.

Senior Jackson Sowell walked with the bases full to make the score 3-0, and the Purples scored their final run when senior Will Kilgore reached base on a fielder’s choice.

“We’ve got some kids that can do some things offensively – bunting and running,” Mosier said. “We got two big bunts and a big hit down the line, and next thing you know, it’s a four-run game. That was a good job of hanging in there.

“It’s nice when you don’t have to get a hit out of the infield – a traditional hit – to make some things happen.”

Junior Dexter Cline took the loss for Greenwood. Cline struck out four batters and allowed six hits in 52⁄3 innings.

Junior Tanner Kirby tossed the final two-thirds of the inning for the Gators, who play at LaRue County at 6:30 p.m. today.

Bowling Green travels to Russell County at 11 a.m. Saturday. After starting 0-3 in district play last season, the Purples are happy to be the early front-runner this year, Natcher said.

“It’s good to be on top, but we’re going to keep working hard to stay there,” he said.

 

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