Wildcats fall twice Saturday at Marietta

Woodland baseball dropped a pair of games Saturday in a doubleheader at Marietta High School. The Wildcats lost the opener 5-4 and fell in the second game, 8-4.

Marietta built a 5-1 lead through four innings in the first game and held off Woodland late.

Woodland scored a run in the fifth and two more in the sixth to cut the margin to one run, but Blue Devils’ reliever Andy Watters retired the Wildcats in order in the top of the seventh to secure Marietta’s win.

Ayden Ray (2 RBIs), Rowan Billings (double, RBI), and Chase Carson had Woodland’s three hits in the opener. Mason Williams added one RBI.

Austin Daves (3.1 IP, 5ER, 6H, 3BB, 1K) started on the mound for Woodland and was tagged with the loss. Zach Lambert (2.2 IP, 0R, 2H) retired the final eight outs.

In the second game Saturday, Woodland scored four times in the top of the fourth inning for a 4-0 advantage, but Marietta answered with three in the bottom of the inning, three in the fifth, and two more in the sixth to win 8-4.

Watters (4.2 IP, 4R, 3ER, 6H, 1BB, 3K) started on the mound for the Blue Devils. Luke Fennelly (2.1 IP, 0R, 1H, 1BB, 2K) picked up the Marietta pitching win in relief.

Mason Gazaway and Carson Snipes combined for four hits and four RBIs to lead the Marietta offense.

Ray (4 IP, 3R, 0ER, 3H, 2BB, 5K) was the starting pitcher for the Wildcats in Game 2. Coby Barrett (0.1 IP, 3R, 2ER, 3H) took the pitching loss in relief. Hunter Shirley (1.2 IP, 2R, 0ER, 0H, 1BB, 1K) closed out the final five outs on the mound for Woodland.

Jakiyon Porter and Ray (RBI) had two hits each for the Wildcats. Carson doubled. Connor Stermer (RBI) and Billings added one hit apiece. Williams tossed in one RBI.

Marietta’s two wins lifted their season mark to 7-8.

Woodland (5-7) begins Region 7-5A play Tuesday at Dalton in the first game of a three-game series during the week. The Wildcats will host Thursday and travel back to Dalton on Friday. All three games are scheduled for first pitch at 5:55 p.m.