Photos by Rick Nation
BENTON — One bad inning can spoil the whole bunch.
The Bryant Hornets suffered miscues on three consecutive Benton Panthers bunts in the bottom of the fourth inning and a decisive four-run inning sprung from it. Brian Krikorian and Chase Nix combined to scatter seven hits and allow just one unearned run as the Panthers secured a 4-1 win over the Hornets in the South Conference opener for both teams Tuesday night.
Harrison Dale makes a throw to first. (Photo by Rick Nation)
It’s the first league loss for the Hornets since a 1-0 setback to the Panthers on March 12, 2013. They went on to finish 13-1 in the league last year, capturing the league crown.
Bryant took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third when Trevor Ezell singled, the second of his three hits in the game, which included a double and a triple. Ezell stole second and, after a two-out walk to Chase Tucker, scrambled to third on a passed ball. An errant pickoff throw allowed him to score.
The Hornets had a chance to extend the lead in the top of the fourth when Jason Hastings singled through the left side and C.J. Phillips beat out a bunt for a hit. Dalton Holt sacrificed them to second and third but Krikorian worked out of the jam.
Bryant right-hander Zack Jackson had shut the Panthers out on three hits through three innings, working out of a mess in the second when Jared Barker doubled, Ben Brausell walked and Chase Nix reached when a sacrifice bunt was misplayed.
Shades of things to come.
Jackson worked around a lead-off single by Colby Johnson in the third but, in the fourth, issued a lead-off walk to Brausell. The first bunt followed and Chase Nix beat it out for a hit. The second bunt, by Cameron Spivey, was misplayed and the bases were loaded.
Jackson got a strike in to Bailey Mitchell but another bunt followed. Brausell scored and all hands were safe. With the game tied and the Hornets struggled with the bunt game, the Panthers road it. Colton Nix’ bunt was booted allowing Chase Nix to come in with the go-ahead run.
Bryant’s Trevor Ezell is congratulated by third base coach Travis Queck after Ezell stole the base. (Photo by Rick Nation)
On the next pitch, Johnson bunted but Jackson made the play, getting it to catcher Trey Breeding for a force at the plate. And it looked like he might get out of the inning when he struck out Brinson Williams.
Harrison Dale relieved for the Hornets and issued a run-scoring walk to Drew Dyer. With Barker at the plate, the count went to 2-1 before he grounded a single into left field to make it 4-1.
Dale fanned Brausell to end the inning but the damage had been done.
The Hornets made a bid to answer in the top of the fifth when, with two down, Tucker and Breeding cracked singles but Krikorian escaped with a strikeout.
The Hornets turned a doubleplay in the bottom of the fifth to keep it 4-1 but couldn’t take advantage of a one-out walk to Dalton Holt in the top of the sixth.
Two-out hits by Williams and Dyer in the bottom of the sixth came to naught as Dale induced an inning-ending force play.
Ezell gave the Hornets hope of a rally in the top of the seventh, belting his triple to right. Nix retired the next three to complete Bryant’s frustration as Ezell was stranded.
The Hornets will try to get back on the winning track with a conference game at home against Pine Bluff on Friday. They head to a spring break tournament in Tampa, Fla., on Saturday.
Craig Harrison
I bet we practiced bunt D today.