Softball-06-03-2012

=Baptists Douse Chalices, 8-4=

In a close game, the University Baptist team edged out the Community Church Flaming Chalices, 8-4, this afternoon. Both teams displayed good defense to keep it a low-scoring affair. Chalices took an early lead in the 2nd, when OF Spence Foscue scored from third on a ground-out by P Jeff Nelson. Spence had singled and advanced to 3rd on a single by 1B Glenn Mehrbach. UB came right back in the top of the 3rd, scoring 3 runs after we had retired the first 2 batters in the inning. Three straight hits, the last one a booming home run to deep left field gave UB a 3-1 lead. No more scoring until the 6th, when UB picked up an insurance run. In the bottom half, the Chalices staged a rally, getting 4 base hits and 3 runs. Four singles by OF Mark Smith, 3B Pete Siragusa, Spence and Glenn scored the first run. With 1 out and the bases loaded, Jeff hit a grounder to short that looked like a tailor-made double play. After tagging second base for one out, the shortstop threw wide to first; the ball went into our dugout, allowing 2 more runs to score and knotting the game at 4-4. All we needed to do was hold the Baptists scoreless in the 7th and we would have a chance for a walk-off win in the bottom half. It was not meant to be. The first batter struck out, but then UB strung together a series of solid hits resulting in a 4-run outburst. In the bottom half of the inning, we managed only 1 baserunner. Disappointing end to a game that held promise for a comeback. Despite the loss, there was much to highlight on the positive side. Spence and Glenn both went 3-for-3, and Spence scored 2 of our 4 runs. Jeff drove in 2 runs and Mark Smith had 2 hits. The rest of the team, however, was only able to garner 3 hits, so there was not much support for our top hitters. Defensively, we played well in the infield and outfield. We had 11 assists total, including 9 batters thrown out at first. Jeff led the team with 5 assists. We caught 2 lead runners at 3rd base (one, a forceout on a throw from Jeff, another on a throw from Glenn to catch a runner trying to advance an extra base). Jeff made a great catch on a line drive that was headed for center field. 2B Vera Smith stopped a hard hit grounder, knocking it to the ground, then picked it up and threw out the runner. OF Nic Bailey and Mark Smith made 2 outstanding plays, both in the 4th inning, to haul down 2 long fly balls hit in the outfield alleys. Those plays helped keep the game in reach for us.