Both teams post big innings early, tied heading into seventh
By Randy Arrington
LURAY, April 20 — Back-to-back district losses have dropped the Bulldogs back to third place in the Bull Run after a road loss to No. 2 Central, 8-5, on Friday, and a heartbreaking loss at home against No. 1 Strasburg on Monday, 7-6. The two losses broke a three-game winning streak.
The Central loss ended last week on the road and with the absence of several players due to a school trip, but on Monday Luray was back at Bulldog Field and prepared for a top district showdown with their ace on the hill against Strasburg.
The game started with plenty for the home crowd to cheer about despite sub-50-degree weather and windy conditions on April 20. JMU-commit Connor Hilliard sat the first three batters down in order, two by strikeout, one looking. The Bulldogs bats then recorded three earned runs off three hits. Senior Nick Cubbage belted an RBI-double to left-centerfield, while sophomore Emery Secrist connected for a two-run single to right field. Luray earned another run off a Ram error and carried a 4-0 lead into the second.
Despite giving up a walk in the second on some narrow misses, Hilliard recorded three K’s in four batters. The senior then added another Luray run off a deep RBI-double to the right-center fence. The Bulldogs lead 5-0 heading into the third.
Hilliard was one pitch away from striking out the Ram batters in order in the third, when a full-count walk sparked a two-out Strasburg rally that produced four runs off three hits and one error. Senior Harper Sherman started the scoring with an RBI-single to left field, followed by a two-run double by senior Jacon Britton, followed by an RBI-double by senior Brady Knight. Just like that, the Rams only trailed by one, 5-4.
Those three consecutive hits were the only ones given up by Hilliard through five innings. He shut down the last six batters he faced and recorded seven strikeouts, while giving up two walks. As the Luray bats also went silent, the home team carried its narrow 5-4 lead into the sixth.
Cole Hilliard hit the hill in relief in the sixth. The sophomore gave up a single to his first batter, but then shut down the side. The Rams were able to tie the game off a sacrifice fly by junior Aiden Bischoff.
Luray almost broke that tie in the bottom of the sixth, when a double by sophomore Caleb Cyphert sent junior Eli Wood for home. In a close play, Wood was ruled out. Cubbage then hit into a ground play and was called out in another extremely close play at first to close out the inning — and strand the go-ahead run.
After getting the lead-off batter in the seventh, Luray allowed three consecutive hits, an error, and two walks that produced two Strasburg runs. The Bulldogs were able to make a play at the plate and get a strikeout to close out the inning, but the damage had been done. They headed into their final at bat down by two.
A walk and an error put the first two Bulldogs on base in the seventh. While Connor Hilliard was able to make his way around the horn and score on a passed ball, two strikeouts would end the game. The Rams held on to pick up a nail-biter and remain undefeated in the Bull Run.
Luray’s five hits were spread out among five hitters. The Bulldogs left seven runners stranded on base. In the field, the home team only committed two errors.
Strasburg had two players with multiple hits — Sherman went 2-for-4 with two singles and one RBI; Knight went 2-for-2 with a single, a double and an RBI. The Rams had seven hits total, stranded five runners on base, and committed three errors in the field. In addition to being perfect at the plate, Knight recorded seven strikeouts in four innings of work on the mound.
Next up, Luray (3-2, 3-5) will host Madison County (1-3, 1-10) on Friday, before traveling to Page County High School (4-1, 4-5) on Tuesday. The Panthers are now tied for second place in the Bull Run.
Strasburg (7-0, 10-3) will travel to Rappahannock (0-5, 0-8) on Friday, and then host Central (4-1, 7-3) in a big district showdown on Tuesday.
For schedules, rosters and results, check the Bull Run District website.
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