Phoenix hand Tigers first loss on the diamond

Visiting Sonoraville raced out to an 8-0 lead at Adairsville Saturday afternoon and that was plenty of run support for pitchers A.J. Hensley and Eli Ballew as the Phoenix handed the Tigers their first loss of the season, 10-3.

Hensley (3.1 IP, 2ER, 3H, 5BB, 7K) was the starting pitcher for Sonoraville and worked into the fourth inning. Ballew (3.2 IP, 1R, 0ER, 2H, 2BB, 2K) entered in the fourth and closed out the contest.

Zach Lyles, who also tripled and walked twice, hit a second-inning grand slam home run for Sonoraville to launch their offense.

Five other Phoenix hitters added two more hits each as Sonoraville pounded out 14 total hits.

Jack Nelson (3.2 IP, 8R, 4ER, 10H, 1BB, 4K) started on the mound for Adairsville and suffered the pitching loss. Kaiden Coker (0.1 IP, 0R, 1H, 1K) retired the final out in the fourth inning and Peyton Bowen (3 IP, 2ER, 3H, 2BB, 2K) tossed the final three frames for the Tigers.

Chris Roper (RBI) had two hits for Adairsville. Jarrett Scott, Dawson Craig, and Nelson added one hit apiece.

Sonoraville improved to 4-0.

Adairsville (4-1) travels to Alexander for a 5:30 p.m. start on Tuesday in Douglasville.