ROGERS -- Bentonville came up with timely hitting to support the pitching of junior Kasey Ford to claim a 7-2 win over Rogers High in the first game of the 7A-West baseball doubleheader Tuesday night at Veterans Park.
Ford allowed just two runs on four hits in the complete-game victory for the Tigers (13-6, 7-3 7A-West), but teammates Paul Rouse and Brian Gloeckler supplied the punch.
7A-West Baseball
Game 1
Bentonville 7, Rogers High 2
Bentonville^100^102^3^—^7^7^5
Rogers^000^002^0^0^—^2^6^4
Ford and Bratspies. Treacy and Ivey. W-Ford. L-Treacy. HRs-Rogers, Sallee 1.
Game 2
Bentonville 8, Rogers High 5
Bentonville^201^023^0^—8^10^0
Rogers^000^401^0^—^5^9^2
Young and Barnes. Sallee, Heffley (6) and Ivey. W- Young. L-Sallee.
Rouse went 2-for-2 with a walk and drove in three runs. His two-out, two-run triple highlighted a three-run seventh that broke the game open. Gloeckler, who went 3-for-4, followed with a second consecutive triple to score Rouse.
That was enough for Ford, who struck out five, did not walk a batter, but did hit two.
Bentonville coach Todd Abbott was not pleased with his defense, but Ford came up with some big pitches and the offense produced at key times.
"It was not a good game defensively, fortunately we were able to overcome it," Abbott said. "Kasey pitched out of a few jams. We made some plays when we needed to. Great at-bats by those guys in the seventh, after we get two quick outs. That was enormous. There was momentum rolling Rogers' side. Those two hits put the momentum back on our side."
Rogers coach Matt Melson liked the way starter Billy Treacy pitched. Neither pitcher got a lot of help defensively as the teams combined for nine errors.
"I thought he pitched well," Melson said. "We kicked one leading off the game, then threw one into left field, then kicked one there in the seventh. We had him down maybe one or two earned runs. We had some quality at-bats. We just left guys on base and didn't get the timely hit. Take away that seventh inning, it's a good, competitive baseball game."
Derek Sallee pulled Rogers (10-11, 3-7) within 4-2 with a two-run homer, but the Mounties could muster no more against Ford.
Game 2
Bentonville 8, Rogers High 5
The Tigers rallied after Rogers took the lead with a four-run fifth to notch the sweep.
Gloeckler's infield single tied the game and Rouse came around for a 5-4 lead thanks to a throwing error on the play and Bentonville didn't look back.
Rouse, who went 3-for-4, added an insurance run with an RBI-single in the sixth, while Blake Werner put down a squeeze bunt on a 3-2 pitch to add another run.
Gloeckler and Cody Scroggins added two hits each for Bentonville. Bradon Mabry went 3-for-4 to lead Rogers.
The Mounties scored four times in the bottom of the fourth to take a 4-3 lead aided by two bases-loaded walks and a hit batsman with the bases full.
Rogers Heritage 7-8, Fort Smith Northside 0-5
Kacey Murphy tossed a two-hitter and struck out 11 to key the game one victory. The Arkansas signee also went 3-for-3 at the plate.
Heritage ( 9-9, 5-5 7A-West) jumped to a 6-0 lead after two innings keyed by Chase Kilgore's three-run home run in the second inning. The senior shortstop went 2-for-4 and scored twice.
The War Eagles again jumped in front early with a five-run first inning, then held off a late Northside charge.
Kilgore went 3-for-4 with a triple in the nightcap, scored two runs and drove in one. Dane Olsen drove in two runs.
Heritage coach Keith Kilgore said Murphy did his job on the mound.
"Kacey competed and gave us opportunities," Kilgore said. "We were fortunate to score a couple in the first inning, then had a big inning and I like my odds when you give Kacey Murphy a 6-0 lead. Just proud of the kids. We strung some hits together and got a good defensive effort."
Ty Harris picked up the win, allowing three runs on five hits over six innings. The left-hander struck out 13 and walked three.
Northside (9-17, 2-8) scored two runs (one earned) in the seventh
Paul Boyd can be reached by email at [email protected] or on Twitter @NWAPaulB.
Sports on 04/22/2015