Fountain Lake junior Jake Turner pitched a complete game Friday night, but the Cobras could not overcome a late run as the visiting Booneville Bearcats took the 2-1 win.
"It was another tough game with them. First time we played, we got beat in extra innings," said Fountain Lake head coach Josh Wesson. "Today offensively, too many fly ball outs and we just didn't get that timely hitting tonight. It wasn't there."
Turner pitched a full seven innings, striking out five and giving up two runs on six hits. The Cobras (13-4, 8-2 3A-4) gained the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning as senior Kody Moody reached on a fielder's choice, plating classmate Sawyer Webb.
The Bearcats (11-7, 8-3) responded in the top of the fifth with a sacrifice fly to even the score, 1-1. The Cobras loaded the bases without an out in the bottom of the frame, but they could not get a runner across the plate.
Booneville's Blakley Cobb hit a home run to push the Bearcats ahead for good in the top of the sixth inning to secure the win over Fountain Lake.
"We left too many guys on base, and you can't leave the bases loaded in that situation, but we didn't swing the bats well at all tonight," said Wesson. "We have a 24-hour rule, win or lose, we flush it. We've got to get ready; now the table's set. We can't lose another one. Us and Atkins are tied again, so we have to win out, and we'll still be the No. 1 seed, but we've just got to get back to work and fix our approaches at the plate, and we'll be fine."
Turner led the way for the Cobras as the junior went 3-for-3. Juniors Preston White and Daeton Bassett and freshman Hayden Cotten each had one hit for Fountain Lake.
Fountain Lake will meet the Malvern Leopards on the road Monday for a non-conference matchup at 4:30 p.m.
Sports on 04/14/2019