Benton tops Conway in nine

It was an offensive showdown at Hendrix field Wednesday night but Benton overcame Conway in 9 innings 7-5.

Benton took a 7-5 lead in the ninth inning. After a flyout to center, Troy Johnson singled, stole second, then scored two batters later on a bloop single by Drew McCrary. After two errors, Benton pushed their second run across before Conway relief pitcher Andrew Adams retired the side.

Conway's Dominic Tague reaches up for the catch during Wednesday's game against Benton. LIBERTY PARKS PHOTO

Conway showed promise in the bottom of the ninth after loading the bases but a double play at home to first and a groundout ended the threat.

Conway was unable to take the lead in the second. After a leadoff single by Ben Tusson, two batters later Andrew Adams hit a sinking that liner that got by the right fielder. Pinch runner Reid Blaylock was thrown out at the plate while Adams went into third with a triple. Fitzhugh retired the next batter on a groundout to short to get out of the inning.

After three consecutive hits in the top of the third, Conway reliever Ricky Puloma allowed minimal damage allowing only one run while inducing a groundball and two flyouts. Benton reliever Lee Richardson struggled early in the third. After two free passes, Wesley Hoover doubled to left center to tie the game at two a piece. Richardson intentionally walked Patrick Mann to load the bases with one out. Richardson stranded the runners after a flyout and strikeout.

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Puloma retired the first two batter in the fourth before giving up a bloop double to Troy Johnson. Johnson scored on a single by Nathan Hopper who was thrown out at second to end the inning. Richardson seemed to be cruising through the fourth before allowing a single to Tyler Langley to score Ryan Lazo who was on from a fielders choice. After a stolen base by Langley, Cole Anderson followed with a shot up the middle scoring Langley and taking the lead 4-3.

After another single by Wesley Hoover, Richardson retired the side on a groundout by Patrick Mann. Conway reliever Patrick Mann retired the side in order on two groundouts back to the pitcher and a flyout. Conway posed a threat to pad their lead a bit after loading the bases on two infield singles and a hit batsman with one away but Benton reliever Bill Tricario ended the threat with a strikeout and groundout to third. Benton placed men at the corners with one out in the top of the sixth but Mann retired the next two batters to get out of the inning. Conway added another run in the sixth to make the score 5-3. After Cole Anderson led off with a liner to left and Hoover was hit by a pitch, Patrick Mann then grounded into a double play. Tusson followed with a clutch single to left to score the run.

Benton tied it up in the top of the seventh. Conway reliever Dominic Tague appeared to have stranded 2 runners on while recording 3 flyouts but on the appeared third out, after a collision in left center, allowed the ball to come out on the play and allow to runs the score. Tague stranded the runner at second after a strikeout. Tricario breezed through the Conway seventh yielding a flyout and two groundouts. Tague allowed no runs in the Benton eighth after a diving catch by Wesley Hoover doubled up the runner at second to end the inning. Conway looked to have the game in hand after an error and single by Mann and Tusson loaded the bases with one out. Tricario ended the threat with a strikeout and groundout.