CHASE HIM OFF, COLUMBIANA WALKS OFF WELLSVILLE

COLUMBIANA, OH-  Columbiana (5-6, 4-2) defeated Wellsville (5-6, 3-4) 5-4 in 8 innings on Tuesday afternoon.  Chase Franken was the hero with a walk-off bases-loaded sacrifice fly to left scoring Wayne Davis who had reached earlier on an error to give the Clippers the win.

Wellsville struck first scoring 3 runs in the second inning, but the Clippers quickly responded in the bottom frame getting two themselves.  Zach Pleska singled and ended up on third after two Tiger errors and scored on an RBI groundout by Matt Mazei.  With two outs Seth Ross would walk and after moving to second on a balk would score on a Franken 2 out RBI single.

The Clippers tied the game up in the fourth inning when Seth Ross singled and scored on Franken’s third hit of the day this time a triple.  Columbiana would notch another in the 5th after a Pleska sacrifice fly but Wellsville managed to tie the game in the 7th on a sacrifice fly themselves.

In the bottom of the 8th inning, Davis would reach on an error followed by Tyler Andersen and Ross each singling which led to Franken’s heroics.

At the plate, Franken was 3-3 with a double, triple a walk and knocked in 3 runs.  Ryan Fahs had two hits including a double while Seth Ross notched two singles and a walk.

On the mound, Evan Kenneally got the start and pitched 6 1/3 innings before being lifted in the seventh.  Kenneally’s line was a good one as he gave up 4 runs (2 earned) over that span while striking out 5.  Fahs (2-1) would earn the win in relief after finishing the seventh and pitching a perfect 8th inning.

For Wellsville, Justin Thirtyacre went five innings giving up 4 runs on 5 hits while striking out three, and walking four.  Cole Corbin took the loss in relief pitching 2.1 innings and giving up a lone tally in the runs column.  Offensively, Garrett Krzyston and Jon Walker paced the Tigers with 2 RBI apiece.

Columbiana returns to action Thursday at home when East Liverpool comes to town.  First pitch is scheduled for 5 PM.

 

*Contributed by Ryan Wolf