Canes drop road contest at Alexander

Cartersville out hit Alexander eight to six Friday night, but the Cougars came out ahead on the scoreboard defeating the Purple Hurricanes 5-4.

The Canes led 2-0 with single runs in the first and third innings before Alexander took the lead for the first time in the bottom of the third, 3-2.

Caleb Daniel drove in both early runs for Cartersville with a sacrifice fly in the first inning and a bases loaded fielder’s choice groundout in the third.

Two singles and a fielder’s choice pushed home the Cougars first run in the bottom of the third inning and a two-run homer by Ben Thomas put them ahead.

Cartersville tied the game in the top of the fifth on Jimbo Gaines’ RBI single but the Cougars regained the lead for good with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame. Breydon Divine doubled to set up Terrance Bowen’s RBI hit.

The Hurricanes narrowed Alexander’s lead to one run in the top of the sixth, but got no closer. Daniel singled to start the Canes’ sixth inning and Drew Rothschild doubled him home.

Kole Orshoski (7 IP, 4ER, 8H, 1BB, 5K) tossed a complete game to earn the pitching win for Alexander. He fanned five.

Colt McKibbon (2 IP, 2ER, 2H, 0BB, 3K) took the pitching loss for Cartersville in relief of starter Caden Carroll (4 IP, 3ER, 4H, 1BB, 7K). The two Canes’ hurlers combined for ten strikeouts.

Divine, Bowen, and Thomas combined for six hits and three RBIs for the Cougars.

Blake Sutton had two hits for Cartersville. Daniel (2 RBI), Rothschild (double, RBI), Gaines (RBI), Curt Bonner, Elliott Eastin, and Jacob Ray (double) added one hit apiece.

Alexander evened its season record at 5-5.

Cartersville (7-3) begins play in Region 7-5A Tuesday at home against Calhoun. The two teams, both currently ranked in the Top Ten of multiple Class 5A polls, will complete their three-game series Friday with a doubleheader at Calhoun.