Eagles can’t make hits count in loss to Thunderbirds

The South Putnam Eagles played their second straight home game of the week and the game ended with a similar outcome. South outhit the North Central (Farmersburg) Thunderbirds 10 to 6, but made enough mistakes on the basepaths and in the field to allow the Thunderbirds to get the 6-4 victory at Dalton Field. This was a similar script as to the previous loss to North Putnam with the Eagles losing a contest that they had more hits.

The Eagles were able to post 10 hits in the game, but had six times a player was thrown out on plays that were not direct outs, but a combination of over runs, run downs and pickoffs costing the Eagles scoring opportunities. In addition, the Thunderbirds were solid in the field as they committed just one error to the Eagles three miscues. The loss drops the Eagles to 2-5, while North Central picked up its first win to improve to 1-6-1 on the year.

The Eagles were able to open the scoring in the first inning as a Luke Switzer single followed by Ayden Battin being hit by a pitch put Switzer in position to be driven home by Kyle Glasson and a 1-0 Eagle lead.

North Central tied the score in the top of the second with a solo home run by Jeremiah Swalls. The Thunderbirds would then get three more runs in the third as they were able to piece together runs with two singles and a pair of Eagle errors. Those three runs would give North Central a 4-1 lead after three innings.

The Thunderbirds would get another run in the fourth on an RBI triple by Wyatt Ison. South would rally with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Battin would lead off with a walk, Glasson reached on an error. Corbin Overpeck drove in Battin and then would score on a Wyatt Switzer single. To cut the lead to 5-3 after four innings.

North Central would tack another run on in the fifth inning as it would get their run courtesy of an error and an RBI groundout. South would answer with one of its own. Luke Switzer would drive in Wyatt Mullin, but the Eagles would strand two runners and still trailed 6-4 after five innings.

Neither team would score in the final two innings, but the Eagles would get two hits in each inning, but couldn’t convert runs as the game would fittingly end with two Eagles on base, one of them doubled off of second on line drive out by Luke Switzer to set the final score.

North Central’s Swalls would lead the offensive charge for the Thunderbirds with a pair of extra-base hits, a double and a home run. Ison would get a pair of hits and a triple to support the complete game by pitcher Kameron Fagg.

Wyatt Mullin would go the distance for the Eagles on the mound, while helping himself with a pair of hits. Glasson would get a pair of singles, while Wyatt Switzer would have a double and a single to lead South Putnam.

North Central 013 110 0 – 6 6 1

South Putnam 100 210 0 – 4 10 3

WP – Fagg; LP – Mullin

2B – NC – Swalls, Hadley, SP – W. Switzer

3B - NC – Ison; HR – NC – Swalls