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The Smithville Tigers varsity baseball team opened the week with an 8-3 win over Navasota on Tuesday, April 8, before falling in heartbreaking fashion, 6-5, to Bellville on Friday, April 11.
Navasota
Smithville overcame an early deficit and used a five-run fourth inning to take down the Navasota Rattlers, 8-3, in the opening game of the week.
After Navasota struck first with an RBI single in the top of the first, the Tigers tied the game at 1-1 in the second on an RBI double from Raando Arpero. Smithville then took a 2-1 lead in the third when Grayson Mullen drove in a run with a double.
The Tigers broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth. Tripp David got things started with an RBI single, followed by an RBI single from Jaxson Frazier and a two-run double from Payton Lynch. Mullen capped the inning with his second RBI of the game to make it 7-1.
The Rattlers cut into the lead with two runs in the fifth on a walk and a hit-by-pitch, but David added an insurance run for Smithville in the bottom half with a single to make it 8-3.
Lynch led the team with two RBIs, while Frazier earned the win on the mound, throwing 5.2 innings and allowing three runs with eight strikeouts.
vs. Bellville
Smithville was just three outs away from victory Friday night but surrendered three runs in the seventh and fell in extra innings to Bellville, 6-5. The Tigers jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Luke Wagoner got the scoring started with an RBI single before Smithville added two more runs on a walk and an error. Layne Kimball extended the lead to 5-0 in the third with a two-run double.
Bellville began to chip away with a sacrifice fly in the fourth and an RBI single in the sixth to cut it to 5-2. In the seventh, the Brahmas loaded the bases with one out and capitalized on a Smithville error to make it 5-3. A single and fielder’s choice followed to tie the game at 5-5 and force extras.
The Tigers went down scoreless in the top of the eighth, and Bellville walked it off with a sacrifice fly in the bottom half.
Mullen took the loss, pitching 7.1 innings and allowing six runs with five strikeouts.
Smithville dropped to 13-10 overall and 2-4 in district play. The Tigers will wrap up their series against Bellville on Tuesday, April 15, before traveling to face La Grange on Thursday, April 17, at 7 p.m.
