GOOD HOPE, Ala. — Good Hope hosted Winston County for its final regular season game Tuesday night, looking to snap a four-game losing streak and build some momentum going into the postseason. Thanks in large part to a dominant pitching performance from Braxton Marshall, the Raiders were able to do just that and defeated the Yellow Jackets 5-2.
After walking the leadoff man, Marshall settled down after that. After Travis Brock threw down the runner at second, Marshall got the next two batters to ground out to end the inning. Paydon Bagwell drew a one-out walk and Lane Speegle hit a single, then after Marshall grounded out into a fielder’s choice, Bagwell stole home to give Good Hope a 1-0 lead after one.
The Raiders added to their lead in the bottom of the second. Three straight hit-by-pitches loaded the bases with no outs. Preston Seymore scored on a passed ball and Bagwell reached on an error, which allowed Colten Whatley and Tyler Black to cross the plate, and that helped push Good Hope’s lead to 4-0. A leadoff double and an RBI infield single got the Yellow Jackets on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth, but the Raiders got that run back in their half as they loaded the bases with no outs. An RBI infield single by Caleb Rusk pushed the Good Hope lead to four at 5-1.
Winston County added another run in the top of the sixth on an RBI single as they made it a 5-2 game, but Rusk got the final four outs of the contest to help seal the Raiders’ 5-2 win over the Yellow Jackets.
Marshall went 5.1 innings as he gave up just three hits and one unearned run, walked one and struck out eight. Rusk (RBI), Speegle, Whatley and Travis Brock each collected a hit in the game for Good Hope (11-15). The Raiders will start the playoffs on Friday as they will travel to take on Cherokee County.
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