WEST BRANCH WIN STREAK CONTINUES

BELOIT OH- It came down to the last play, but Grand Valley was on the wrong end of a 6-5 defeat to West Branch on Saturday. The game was tied at five with West Branch batting in the bottom of the eighth when Aaron Tucker singled on a 2-0 count, scoring one run.

Grand Valley fired up the offense in the first inning, when Dane Sparks doubled on a 1-1 count, scoring one run.

The Mustangs knotted the game up at five in the top of the seventh inning, when Gavin Bell induced Z Hall to hit into a fielder’s choice, but one run scored.

West Branch scored five runs in the third inning. The offensive firepower was led by Beau Alazaus, Tucker, Anthony Perry, and Zach Peters, all sending runners across the plate with RBIs in the inning.

Nick Wilson earned the win for the Warriors. Wilson went one and two-thirds innings, allowing zero runs on one hit, striking out two and walking zero. Bell threw one-third of an inning in relief out of the bullpen.

Will Seger took the loss for Grand Valley. The righty surrendered one run on three hits over two and a third innings, striking out three and walking one.

Casey Turner started the game for the Mustangs. The righthander lasted three innings, allowing five hits and five runs while striking out three and walking zero Tucker started the game for West Branch. Tucker went six innings, allowing three runs on five hits, striking out eight and walking one

Grand Valley scattered eight hits in the game. Matt Wengerd, Sparks, and Hagan Hejduk each collected multiple hits. Wengerd led with three hits in four at bats.

West Branch totaled ten hits in the game. Tucker and Wilson both managed multiple hits. Tucker went 4-for-4 at the plate to lead in hits.