Woodland splits games Saturday in Canton

The Woodland Wildcats made the trip to Canton Saturday and split games with Forsyth Central and host Cherokee. Woodland won the opener with Forsyth Central 6-4, but fell to Cherokee in their second game of the day, 7-3.

WOODLAND 6, FORSYTH CENTRAL 4

The Bulldogs held a 1-0 lead through two innings but the Wildcats posted three runs in the third inning and two more in the fourth to gain control.

Woodland outhit Forsyth Central eight to three but both teams struggled defensively combining for 10 errors.

Austin Daves (4.1 IP, 3R, 0ER 3H, 2BB, 3K) started on the mound and earned the pitching victory for Woodland. All three runs against the starter were unearned. Zach Lambert entered for the Wildcats in the fifth inning and worked into the seventh. Coby Barrett was credited with a save, striking out the only batter he faced.

Julian Wright had two hits and one RBI. He was one of four Wildcats to have a double in the contest.

Jakiyon Porter, Ayden Ray (RBI), and Connor Lujan also contributed doubles for the Woodland offense. Rowan Billings, Chase Carson, and Brett Good added one hit each.

The loss dropped Forsyth Central to 6-5 on the season.

CHEROKEE 7, WOODLAND 3

Cherokee grabbed a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third Saturday night and never trailed in a 7-3 win over Woodland.

The Wildcats narrowed their deficit to 3-2 in the top of the fourth but three more runs by the Warriors in the bottom of the fourth built a 6-2 lead for the hosts.

Cherokee added one more run in the fifth and Woodland scored a single run in the sixth for the 7-3 final score.

Alex Morales had three hits for the Warriors with one RBI. Jackson Bradfield drove in a run with two hits including a double. Alex Shaw hit a solo home run for Cherokee.

Hunter Shirley (2 IP, 3ER, 2H, 6BB, 2K) started on the mound for Woodland and took the pitching loss. Coby Barrett (1 IP, 0R, 1H), Logan Bentley (1 IP, 3R, 0ER, 3H, 1BB), Zach Lambert (1 IP, 1ER, 2H, 1BB, 2K), and Ayden Ray (1 IP, 0R, 1H, 2K) each worked an inning of relief for the Wildcats.

Chase Carson and Mason Williams had two hits each for Woodland. Brett Good (double, RBI), Julian Wright, Connor Stermer, and Jakiyon Porter added one hit each. Ray drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

Cherokee, who also beat Forsyth Central earlier in the day, improved to 10-1.

Woodland (6-4) visits Sonoraville Monday for a 5:30 p.m. first pitch.