Canes fall in home opener, 5-2
The Cartersville baseball team suffered a 5-2 defeat by Forsyth Central Monday afternoon in the 2020 home opener for the Hurricanes. The visiting Bulldogs (1-1) scored twice in the third inning and added two more runs in the fourth inning to take an early 4-0 lead. Cartersville responded with two runs in the bottom of the fourth, but Forsyth Central relievers Tyler Smith and Jake Hill would allow only one more Cartersville hit across the final three and two-third innings and did not yield another run. The Bulldogs added an insurance run in the seventh for the 5-2 final score. Left-handed junior starter Will Robbins earned the pitching win for Forsyth Central. He struck out seven and scattered three hits while working into the fourth inning. Smith and Hill had a pair of strikeouts each for the Bulldogs.
Canes’ starter Hayden Davidson (3.2 IP, 4R, 0ER, 5H, 1BB, 2K) was tagged with the pitching loss despite not allowing an earned run. Silas Freeman (2.1 IP, 0R, 2H, 5K) and Davis Williams (1 IP, 1ER, 3H, 1K) pitched in relief for Cartersville.
Forsyth Central scored twice in the top of the third inning. The first run crossed following a single, an infield error, and a wild pitch. John Goodrow smacked a single two batters later to drive in the second Bulldogs’ run.
In the fourth, another infield error followed by a single and a ground out plated a run that gave Forsyth Central a 3-0 lead. Luke Owens lined a single into left field to drive in the Bulldogs’ fourth run of the day.
Cartersville’s two-run fourth was started when Parker McPherson reached on a hard one-hopper that was misplayed by the Bulldogs’ third baseman. Chandler Tromza followed with a double over the head of the Forsyth Central centerfielder to put base runners at second and third. Ben Williams bounced a single into right field to score McPherson and Tromza later scored when Jack Carter bounced into a double play.
The final Forsyth Central run scored when Goodrow drove in Brandon Bick. Bick had doubled to start the seventh inning and A.J. Fiechter advanced Bick to third with a single.
Cartersville finished with four base hits. Drew Rothschild and Tromza doubled. Ben Williams had a pair of singles. The Canes (1-1) travel to Villa Rica Tuesday for a 5:55 p.m. start and travel to Alexander Thursday for another 5:55 p.m. first pitch. Saturday, Cartersville will host Ringgold at 1 p.m. and Rockmart at 5:30 p.m. at Richard Bell Field.
