Braves Fall to Cardinals

By Jen Chan
After another slow start to the game, the Cardinals were able to get on the score board first in the top of the 2nd inning after 2 RBI single from Dalton Nicely just beyond the glove of Gavin Rush. Nicely would later be stranded on 1st to end the inning.

The Cardinals would not score another run until the top of the 4th as a lead off hit from Garrett Harrison puts him on base after hitting it above Rush’s head about 4 feet, but unable to secure it in his mitt as he came down. David Wood would advance Harrison to 2nd on a fielding error from Isaiah Blanks. Another error in this inning went to Jacob Cude would give Nicely a single and score Huffman on an error with smart base running and only 1 out. The Cardinals would end the inning by stranding 2 runners on base but did move the score in their favor of 3-0.

The final few runs for the Cardinals came from the top of the 5th as Dylan Nicely made it to 1st on a throwing error from Rush. He would later steal 2nd on an inside pitch to Wit Scafidi. Scafidi would make it on base off a fielding error from Blanks to put runners at 1st and 2nd. Huffman would then battle at the plate and send the ball deep into right center field for a 3-run home run to move the Cardinals ahead 6-0.

The bottom of the 5th inning started with a “lazy liner towards (Eli) Lam,” from Logan Jones to get the first out. Cude would then get a base hit towards Cam Herron and steal second on an error. A throwing error would be made off a hit from Kyle Armstrong. The bases would be loaded as Blanks would be walked, but Hunter Clever would be unable to put the ball in play to end the inning with bases loaded.

After a quick 6th inning from both teams and a 3 up – 3 down scene from the Cardinals in the top of the 7th, the Braves were able to make way into scoring their runs. Cude started off the inning with a lead-off hit to shallow right field. Rush then lined low past Huffman into left field to put runners on 1st and 2nd. Armstrong would bunt towards the typical spot for the short stop, but there would be no fielder there to advance the runners, loading the bases with no outs. Blanks would then make up for the errors in the previous innings with a shot to the fence giving him a 3 RBI stand up double. Blanks would then steal 2nd and eventually the bases would be loaded once again after 2 strikeouts and 2 walks. Blanks would later score off another drawn walk from Jones to decrease the lead to 6-4 in favor of the Cardinals. With the bases loaded again and the order for the Braves gone around fully once, they were unable to score any additional runs.

The 8th and 9th innings of the game came quickly and ended just over 2 hours after the game started. The Cardinals increase their season record to 3-2 as the Braves drop another one to put them at a 1-6 season record.

Both teams will be on the field again tomorrow at 6:30 at Shifflett field.

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