By Kyle Roberts
RUSTON, La. — An eight-run inning in the bottom of the fifth secured a 13-3 win over third-ranked in Division II, Select, Loyola Prep (14-7) Monday night at home for the Ruston High Bearcats (15-6, 5-0 District 2-5A) — a win that now extends the current winning streak to 12 games in a row.
“This was another good ball club and early week win for us,” Ruston High head coach Bryan Beck said. “They’re a young club, but they’re really good. They’re really well coached, and they came over to play. We were a little flat early — it was ugly in the beginning, and we weren’t playing good baseball. But we were able to get to (their starting pitcher), we got into their bullpen and broke the game open. We’ll take the win — anytime you can win, it’s a good win.”
After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the first, Ruston answered with a one-out single by sophomore John Parker Moak with a single into center field to score junior Jackson Lee from first base to tie the score 1-1.
Ruston added two more runs in the bottom of the second after Lee singled to third base to score junior Hudson Wood with two outs. Lee would later steal home near the end of the inning to give Ruston a 3-1 lead.
Loyola would respond with a run in the top of the third to cut the lead to 3-2, but the Bearcats would extend their lead by two more runs in the bottom of the fourth. With two runners in scoring position and one out, junior Nolan Parnell hit a line drive single to center both Lee and senior Peyton Martin for a 5-2 lead.
The Fliers would get one more run to cut into Ruston’s lead at 5-3 in the top of the fifth, but the eight-run inning by the Bearcats led to the run-rule win.
Lee would hit a sacrifice fly for Ruston to center field and score senior Jake Simmons for the first out in the bottom of the stanza, putting Ruston up 6-3. Martin would single in the next at-bat to score Wood, and after a walk by Moak to load the bases, Parnell would take a walk in his plate appearance to score junior Jackson Burroughs and give Ruston an 8-3 lead. Senior Carter Love would follow with a sacrifice fly to center and score Martin for the 9-3 score.
Loyola’s pitcher would then commit a balk, scoring Moak from third base and putting Ruston up 10-3. After being brought in as a pinch runner, sophomore Michael Brisco would steal third base and the get home on an error to put Ruston up 11-3. Simmons would add a bunt single in the next at-bat to put freshman Dalen Powell on third base, who came in as a pinch runner for junior Lander Smith after he singled in the previous at-bat. Powell would then score on a steal to home plate, putting Ruston up 12-3.
Finally, Lee connected on his third hit of the night to bring home Simmons and end the game 13-3.
Senior Eli Crawford got the start on the night for Ruston on the mound, pitching 2.0 innings and striking out two batters before heading out with should discomfort. Sophomore Peyton Nations came in from the bullpen and finished the game, striking out two Flier batters, as well.
“We were being precautionary with Eli,” Beck said. “(Athletic trainer) Coach Chris Brister wanted to go ahead and get him out.”
Lee led the team with his three hits while collecting three RBIs. Parnell added three RBIs, as well, for the Bearcats. Martin, Love and Smith all had multiple hits on the night.
“Almost everybody in our lineup had a hit in the game for us,” Beck said. “A couple were multi-hit, but we just have to start better against good teams down the road.”
The Bearcats will return to action against Glenbrook on the road.
“It’s another good opponent for us,” Beck said. “Glenbrook has already beaten Loyola a couple of weeks ago. We’ll have to get ready to play, and we need to be sharp, focused and ready to go.”
