SPRINGDALE -- Shiloh Christian built an early lead and held on to claim an 8-6 win over Carthage, Mo., in the McDonald's Bulldog Classic on Friday evening.
The bottom of the Saints' batting order came up with a pair of key two-out hits to help Shiloh Christian build a 7-1 advantage, but held off a late Carthage charge to advance to today's 1 p.m. semifinals at Tyson Sports Complex. The Saints will play Gravette, an 8-3 winner over Springdale High on Friday.
Shiloh Christian 8, Carthage, Mo. 6
Shiloh Christian^214^000^1^-^8^12^3
Carthage^101^011^2^-^6^5^0
Bandy, Conally (5) and McDonald; Goade, Diggs (6) and Lee. W-Bandy, 1-0. L-Goade, 0-1. Sv-Conally (1). HRs - None.
Shiloh Christian coach Moe Henry said different parts of the lineup have hit well at different times so far this season, but eight of the nine in the lineup had at least one hit on Friday. No. 8 hitter Nick Gookin and No. 9 hitter Kord Offenbacker came up with the biggest hits.
Gookin laced a two-out, two-run single to right field in the top of the third and Offenbacker followed with a two-run double to give Shiloh (5-0) the big 7-1 lead.
"Today was the first day that we truly hit up and down," Henry said. "But our eight- and nine-hole hitters, it's a compliment to them and their mindset. They feel like they can be middle of the order or leadoff hitters.
"Nick has the power to hit in the middle of the order and Kord has led off for us. Nick has struggled. He had three straight strikeouts in a game last night and we made a move and replaced him. But he bounced right back today and you see how he responded."
Gookin and Offenbacker finished with two hits apiece and two RBIs. Jake Reindl and Ryne McDonald also had two hits each for the Saints, who pounded out 12 hits as a team. Austin Conally also drove in two runs.
Offenbacker also came up with a big defensive play at third base, ranging to his left to start a huge inning-ending double play in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Carthage, who blanked Batesville 6-0 earlier in the day, slowly chipped away at the Saints' lead. Carthage coach Mike Godfrey said his team didn't take advantage of some late-inning scoring chances.
"I was disappointed," Godfrey said. "I thought we should have swung the bats better. We had some chances to score some the last three innings and didn't do a whole lot. But Shiloh did a good job. They made the plays."
The Tigers managed just five hits in the game, but has more base runners thanks to seven walks and one hit batsman. However, they failed to take full advantage.
Connally pitched the final 2 1/3 innings to earn the save, allowing three runs (one earned). Luke Bandy picked up the win, allowing three runs in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out seven and walked four.
Sports on 03/22/2014