Hurricanes complete series sweep of Calhoun
Top-ranked Cartersville went into Saturday’s home game with Calhoun knowing they had already won the series, coach Kyle Tucker and the Hurricanes wanted to complete the sweep.
The Canes won the first two games of the week 2-1 on Tuesday and 4-3 in 12 innings on Thursday.
After falling behind early on Saturday, the Canes chipped away and eventually took the lead with a three-run sixth inning to pull out a 7-5 victory. The win completed a three-game Region 7-5A sweep of the Yellow Jackets.
Following a scoreless first inning Saturday, Calhoun posted a five-spot in the top of the second inning.
The Yellow Jackets had three singles in the frame, but also took advantage of a walk, a hit batsman, two errors, and a sacrifice fly to build a 5-0 lead.
Cartersville responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning.
Luke Miller delivered a two-run single and a Calhoun error on a ground ball enabled a third run to score.
Paul Gamble smacked a solo home run to center field to narrow the Yellow Jackets’ advantage to 5-4 in the fourth inning and pulled the Hurricanes within striking distance.
The score stayed that way until Cartersville took the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth.
Miller singled again to lead off the inning and later scored on Caleb Daniel’s RBI single. Harrison Childers doubled in the next at-bat scoring Miles Owen, who had walked, and Daniel.
Nicholas Hruby (5 IP, 0R, 4H, 1BB, 4K), who took over for starter Sawyer Wilson (2 IP, 5R, 2ER, 4H, 2BB, 3K) in the third inning, allowed a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh but recorded one of his three strikeouts to end the game and earn the pitching win.
Miller finished the day with three hits including a double and two RBIs. Childers followed with two hits including a double and two RBIs. Owen, Daniel (RBI), Ryan Johnson, and Gamble (HR) added one hit each.
Calhoun falls to 3-11 on the season and 0-3 in region play.
Cartersville (11-2, 3-0) begins their three-game region series with Woodland Tuesday on the road. The Canes will host the Wildcats Thursday and the series will wrap up Friday back at Woodland. All three games are scheduled for the first pitch at 5:55 p.m.
