GOOD HOPE – Good Hope took on Cordova Monday in the Raiders’ area opener at home. The fell to the Blue Devils, 5-2.
Good Hope starter Matt Hancock got in trouble with one out when he allowed a single to Nathan Bullock and a double to Will Samples, but he got Lucas Williams to ground out back to him and he struck out Mason Robertson, looking to get out of the early jam. The Raiders got back-to-back two-out doubles by Tyler Legg and Hancock to get on the scoreboard first.
The Blue Devils got in the run column in the fourth. Robertson led off the inning with a single to center field, then Hancock walked Brady Ireland and Jacob Headrick to load the bases. After getting a fielder's choice and a strikeout, Hancock looked to get out of yet another jam, but he walked Zach Bozeman on a full count and the Blue Devils tied the game at one. Bullock then hit a two-run single to right field to give Cordova a 3-1 lead.
Cordova added to its lead in the fifth inning. Robertson got hit by the pitch with one out, then Ireland drew a walk. Hancock then got Headrick to pop out to him for the second out, but Robertson and Ireland moved up to third and second, respectively, on a wild pitch. Bradley Brooks drove them both in with a two-run single to put the Raiders at a 5-1 disadvantage.
Good Hope looked to get its offense going in the Raiders’ final at-bats. Matt Dixon reached on an error by the shortstop, Bradley Brooks, to lead off the inning and stole second; he advanced to third on a wild pitch, but two outs later, the Raiders were down to their final out. Preston Bagwell, though, kept the inning alive with an RBI double to make it a 5-2 game. Legg grounded out to second to end the contest.
Hancock and Bagwell each had a hit and an RBI for Good Hope. Harper Chiaranda added two hits. Bailey Quick, Austin Eakes and Legg each chipped in with one. Legg and Dixon each scored a run. Hancock went four and two-thirds innings, allowing six hits and five runs, walking five and striking out six. Eakes struck out three and gave up no hits or runs in his two and one-third innings of work.
The Raiders fall to 7-10 overall and 0-1 in their region; they will face Cordova in a doubleheader on the road on Thursday.
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