By Staff Reports

PERRY – With the Raiders trailing 3-0 going into the top of the seventh inning against Westfield, Southland found a way to score five runs and were able to hold the Hornets in their half of the seventh to gain a 5-3 victory Tuesday, March 13, at Westfield.

Landon Law led off the inning with a double against Westfield pitcher Hunter Hancock. Then Clay Owens reached on an error by second baseman Matt Muse. Law advanced to third on the play, and Southland had runners at first and third with nobody out.

Tyler Kennedy then singled to drive in Law, and Southland had their first run of the game. Owens advanced to third on Law’s RBI single, and the Raiders had runners at first and third with still nobody out. Harrison Bell struck out swinging for the first out of the inning. Then Hunter McCain drew a walk, and the bases were loaded with one out for Adam Smith.

Smith drew a walk, scoring Clay Owens and making the score 3-2 Hornets with one out and the bases still loaded. George Wall then singled, scoring Tyler Kennedy and the game was tied 3-3 with only one out. McCain advanced to third and advanced to second on the play.

Westfield Head Coach Rob Fitzpatrick replaced Hancock with relief pitcher Nathan Childers, hoping to limit any more damage. However, Childers hit Southland batter Freddie Updike and McCain scored, giving the Raiders a 4-3 lead with still only one out. Adam Smith advanced to third and George Wall advanced to second. The Raiders still had the bases loaded with one out.

Steven Barnes grounded into a fielder’s choice, scoring Smith and giving Southland a 5-3 lead with two outs. Luke Law struck out swinging to end the inning, but the damage had been done.

Southland’s Harrison Bell came into the game in relief of Adam Smith in the bottom of the seventh. Westfield’s Tee Adams led off the inning by grounding out to first baseman Ross Minick. Bell struck out Travis McDonald for the second out. Hatch Brannen kept hope alive for the Hornets with a single, but Bell was able to strike out Matt Huckabee to end the game.

Four Southland batters each drove in an RBI: Adam Smith, George Wall, Freddie Updike and Landon Law. The Raiders scored five runs on five hits and committed one error, while the Hornets scored three runs on six hits and committed one error.

Ross Minick started the game on the mound for the Raiders. He pitched five innings, giving up two earned runs on four hits. He walked two and struck out nine. Adam Smith relieved Minick. Smith pitched one inning. He gave up a run on one hit. He walked one batter and struck out two. Harrison Bell finished up the game, giving up no runs on one hit. He walked none and struck out two in the bottom of the seventh to end the game.

The Raiders will try to continue their winning ways when they travel to Cordele on Friday for a rematch against Crisp County. First pitch is at 6 p.m.