HUBBARD RESPONDS TO BEING DOWN EARLY

HUBBARD OH-  Hubbard took care of business Friday, knocking off Maplewood 7-4 in a scrappy, back-and-forth battle.

Maplewood drew first blood in the top of the first thanks to a bases-loaded walk, but Hubbard answered in the third and didn’t look back. A walk from Johnny Reyes tied things up, Gabe Rusnak brought in another with a sac fly, and Zack Svensson came through with a two-run single to give the Eagles a 4-1 lead they wouldn’t give up.

AJ Cheney got the start and battled through four innings, giving up just two hits and an unearned run while fanning four. He walked five but worked out of jams when he had to. Maddox Pieton came in late and shut the door for the save.

At the plate, Svensson and Rusnak did the heavy lifting with two RBIs each. Svensson and Geno Leshnack each racked up two hits, and the Eagles kept the pressure on with four stolen bases. They also flashed the leather with a double play to help seal the deal.

Maplewood didn’t go quietly. Ryan Sexton drove in two, Gabe Erwin stayed hot with a 3-for-4 day, and Zach Suba added a pair of knocks of his own. Maplewood worked seven walks and turned two slick double plays defensively, but it wasn’t enough to erase Hubbard’s lead. Next up, the Eagles get right back to it with a matchup against Harding on Saturday.