Story was originally published in The Sylva Herald
The Smoky Mountain Mustangs lost their non-conference matchup against the Bearcats at Hendersonville on March 22 by a score of 10-6.
The Bearcats were able to consistently score runs throughout the game, only avoiding the score column in the first inning.
The Mustangs trailed 4-1 heading into the top of the fifth when they scored three runs, tying the game up thanks to a two-run double by Zeb Fisher that scored Clayton Dillard and Gavin McCoy, who both walked. Max Buchanan then scored Fisher on an RBI double to tie the game.
“Things were looking promising as we headed into the bottom of the fifth inning,” Coach Jeremy Ellenburg said. “However, when they were able to answer with all of those runs in the bottom half, it sucked all of the wind out of our momentum.”
Smoky Mountain proceeded to allow five runs to cross in the bottom half of the fifth, as the Bearcats regained the lead at 9-4.
Smoky was able to add two of their own off of a Dillard double and McCoy’s two-run homer cutting the lead down to three.
The Bearcats answered with the final run of the game in the bottom of the sixth.
The Hendersonville offense was led by Seth Gunning, Jimmy Britt, Skylar Albright, Ethan Rector and Elyja Gibbs. Gunning, Britt and Gibbs each earned two RBI’s, while Albright and Rector each had one. Albright also went three for three at the plate.
Smoky’s Zeb Fisher made his first start on the mound pitching 3 and 2/3 innings. Will Smith and Max Buchanan (0-1) both came on in relief.
“Zeb did a great job just coming into the game and throwing strikes,” Ellenburg said. “We just needed to do a better job playing defense behind him.
“Our approach at the plate still is not where it needs to be, but a positive we can take from this game is we didn’t lay down,” he added. “They got up on us, and we did a great job fighting back.”
